▁studied ▁the ▁pre val ence ▁of ▁rare ▁earth ▁elements , ▁nuclear ▁waste ▁products , ▁and ▁hydro car b ons . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : Ge och em istry <0x0A> </s> ▁Bir n beck ▁Pier , ▁also ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁' Old ▁Pier ', ▁ ▁is ▁a ▁pier ▁situated ▁on ▁the ▁Br istol ▁Channel ▁in ▁West on - super - M are , ▁North ▁Som erset , ▁England , ▁approximately ▁ ▁south - west ▁of ▁Br istol . ▁It ▁is ▁the ▁only ▁pier ▁in ▁the ▁country ▁which ▁links ▁the ▁main land ▁to ▁an ▁island , ▁linking ▁to ▁Bir n beck ▁Island , ▁a ▁ ▁rock y ▁island ▁just ▁to ▁the ▁west ▁of ▁Wor le bury ▁Hill . ▁The ▁grade ▁II * ▁listed ▁pier ▁was ▁designed ▁by ▁Eugen ius ▁Bir ch ▁and ▁opened ▁in ▁ 1 8 6 7 . ▁The ▁g oth ic ▁to ll ▁house ▁and ▁pier head ▁buildings ▁were ▁designed ▁by ▁local ▁architect ▁Hans ▁Price . ▁The ▁pier ▁has ▁been ▁closed ▁to ▁the ▁public ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁and ▁is ▁now ▁on ▁the ▁Build ings ▁at ▁R isk ▁Register . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁second ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 th ▁and ▁early ▁ 2 0 th ▁centuries ▁the ▁pier ▁was ▁popular ▁both ▁with ▁loc als ▁and ▁tour ists ▁to ▁the ▁town . ▁As ▁a ▁board ing ▁point ▁for ▁steam ers ▁p lying ▁their ▁trade ▁in ▁the ▁Br istol ▁Channel , ▁it ▁under w ent ▁various ▁extensions ▁and ▁modifications ▁over ▁the ▁years . ▁During ▁the ▁Second ▁World ▁War ▁the