▁the ▁Rh ond da ▁and ▁Sw anse a ▁Bay ▁Railway , ▁the ▁pier ▁opened ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁May ▁ 1 8 9 8 ▁at ▁a ▁cost ▁of ▁£ 1 0 , 0 0 0 . ▁It ▁was ▁the ▁western ▁termin us ▁for ▁the ▁world ' s ▁first ▁passenger ▁carrying ▁railway , ▁the ▁Sw anse a ▁and ▁M umb les ▁Railway ; ▁and ▁a ▁major ▁terminal ▁for ▁the ▁White ▁F unnel ▁p addle ▁steam ers ▁of ▁P ▁and ▁A ▁Campbell , ▁un loading ▁tour ists ▁from ▁routes ▁along ▁the ▁River ▁Se vern ▁and ▁Br istol ▁Channel . ▁ ▁He yd ay ▁In ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 1 8 9 9 , ▁Will ▁C . ▁Pe pper , ▁father ▁of ▁the ▁mus icians ▁Harry ▁S . ▁Pe pper ▁and ▁Dick ▁Pe pper , ▁founded ▁a ▁long - running ▁concert ▁party ▁on ▁the ▁Pier ▁called ▁the ▁White ▁Co ons . ▁ ▁The ▁Am usement ▁Equ ip ment ▁Company ▁( AME CO ) ▁gained ▁a ▁lic ence ▁to ▁operate ▁the ▁pier ▁from ▁ 1 ▁October ▁ 1 9 3 7 . ▁The ▁pier ▁was ▁requ is ition ed ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁but ▁A ME CO ▁acquired ▁the ▁free hold ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 7 , ▁extens ively ▁re construct ing ▁the ▁facility ▁and ▁adding ▁a ▁landing ▁jet ty . ▁A ▁new ▁ar cade ▁was ▁built ▁on ▁the ▁pier ' s ▁front age ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 6 . ▁A ME CO ▁spent ▁between ▁£ 2 5 , 0 0 0 ▁and ▁£