▁used ▁in ▁the ▁construction ▁of ▁the ▁pier . ▁It ▁was ▁supported ▁by ▁ 1 2 6 ▁iron ▁columns , ▁ ▁apart ▁and ▁sc rew ed ▁into ▁the ▁solid ▁cl ay ▁base ▁beneath ▁the ▁beach . ▁A ▁shelter ▁was ▁ere cted ▁on ▁the ▁pier ▁head ' s ▁dock ▁for ▁passengers ▁emb ark ing ▁or ▁landing ▁from ▁steam ▁vessels . ▁The ▁pier ▁was ▁capable ▁of ▁accommod ating ▁up ▁to ▁ 5 0 0 0 ▁people , ▁of ▁whom ▁ 1 0 0 0 ▁could ▁be ▁se ated . ▁ ▁Operation ▁ ▁The ▁pier ▁had ▁a ▁small ▁renov ation ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 2 ▁when ▁a ▁fl oral ▁hall ▁pav il ion ▁was ▁added ▁half - way ▁along ▁the ▁deck , ▁at ▁a ▁cost ▁of ▁£ 1 2 , 0 0 0 ▁( equ ivalent ▁to ▁£ ▁in ▁). ▁A ▁further ▁reconst ruction ▁followed ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 1 – 1 9 0 2 ▁to ▁en large ▁the ▁pav il ion , ▁including ▁raising ▁the ▁roof ▁to ▁accommod ate ▁t aller ▁stage ▁scen ery ▁and ▁en larg ement ▁of ▁the ▁theatre ▁stage ; ▁other ▁improvements ▁included ▁the ▁ere ction ▁of ▁an ▁additional ▁dress ing ▁room , ▁refresh ment ▁rooms ▁and ▁an ▁upper ▁tea - room ▁added ▁to ▁the ▁pav il ion ' s ▁bal con y . ▁ ▁The ▁pier ▁suffered ▁significant ▁damage ▁from ▁two ▁separate ▁inc idents ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 3 . ▁The ▁first ▁occurred ▁on ▁ 2 7 ▁February , ▁when ▁two ▁sh el ters ▁were ▁blow n ▁into ▁the