 The main pier was originally 1 @,@ 150 feet ( 351 m ) long , and it is 20 feet ( 6 m ) wide with a cantilever construction . However the low water jetty was damaged in a storm in 1903 , rebuilt in 1909 and finally dismantled in 1923 meaning that the pier is now 1 @,@ 040 feet ( 317 m ) long , Due to architectural features such as abutments at either end of the pier , the pier resembles a bridge more than other pleasure piers . Fifteen groups of piles support a continuous lattice girder , each set comprising four piles screwed into the river bed at an angle with an X @-@ brace between each adjacent pair . The fitting of screw blades to iron piles , as opposed to the then accepted wooden pile , created a deeper and far more resilient base support . This was one of the innovations brought by Eugenius Birch which have enabled many of the piers he designed to survive . There were problems with oscillations in the structure when bands marched on the pier , both on the opening day and again in 1886 . As a result , further horizontal cross braces were added to the piles , and a law was passed banning marching on the pier . The gothic toll house and pierhead buildings were designed by local architect Hans Price . 
