In Victorian times Weston was a
booming seaside resort. An area on
“Flagstaff Hill” was landscaped and turned into beautiful gardens with a rest
pavilion enjoying stunning views.
The
gardens were named Prince Consort Gardens
in memory of Prince Albert. In 2013, due to tireless efforts by a small
group of volunteers, the gardens were designated a Town Green meaning the area
is safe from development.
It is a delight to walk through
the gardens in the early morning sunshine with hardly a soul to be seen. Just a mile along The Prom. the beach is
packed with holidaymakers but here all is peaceful. The only sound is water trickling from a
fountain in the lily pond. But a sense
of sadness overwhelms me - the Victorian Rest Pavilion is boarded up and looks
decidedly neglected – a police warning notice adorns it’s once beautiful windows.
The map at the entrance to the
gardens shows two small rectangles marked with the letters PC – these are just
to one side of the lily pond. What could
these letters stand for? Well, I reckon
there is a fair chance that they once referred to a Public Convenience. On looking around I see nothing that
resembles a toilet block – but wait a minute, what is behind that very high hedge? Further inspection reveals a padlocked gate
but I can just see what appears to be a small building inside. No doubt, these were the conveniences of days long ago but perhaps the area is now used
by those who maintain the beautiful borders.
In 1867 Birnbeck Pier was built
at the foot of the cliff joining a small island with the
mainland. In the 21st.
century the view from the gardens is still as spectacular as it was in
Victorian times but regrettably Birnbeck Pier is now a crumbling old lady.
What fun she must have seen in
the past – what a bustling place it must have been. Now, even the RNLI have had to retreat as more
and more planks fall to the sands below.
Even in it’s state of disrepair – or perhaps because of it’s dilapidated state - it is a location which draws me
back over and over again. How I wish I
could get a little nearer to photograph it’s crumbling structure close up.
In January 1868 just a few months
after the pier had been opened a couple of fishermen were walking across when
they heard a loud snorting beneath their feet.
Thinking it was a tipsy man they made their way onto the beach to
investigate. To their surprise they
found it was a large seal left “high & dry” on the pebbles. Do we still get seals in Weston? I can only provide a photo of one from New Zealand.
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| Riversdale, Wairarapa, New Zealand |
At one time the Pier Master was a
respected and well known member of the community. Henry Alfred Cole had moved to Weston as a
child in the 1870s. He spent a career
working for the Pier Company first as “Collector of Tolls” then as Pier
Master. He died in the Toll-house on 5 June 1937 and was buried in the Milton
Road Cemetery
a few days later.
Walking along from Prince
Consort Gardens - at
the top of the steps which lead down to Cove Café (another of my favourite
watering holes) - I come across another set of boarded up loos. Apparently these were closed in 2009.
Never mind – because a little
further around the Marine Lake path can be found The Cove Restaurant & Bar
and that does have a toilet block to one side?
Well – it used to have a Ladies and Gents to one side!! In 2014 the Ladies has been boarded up and
what used to be the Gents is now a pay-to-enter Unisex facility. There is a queue a mile long -
so I just have
to wait until I get home
