Anthony Smith – Page 2 – Hythe Pier Heritage Association

Rock the Train.

Hythe came to life over the weekend of 23rd and 24th July to celebrate the centenary of the pier train encompassing the ‘Rock the Pier’ music festival day.

The celebrations started with a short ceremony conducted by HPHA chairman Anthony Smith during which the 16307 locomotive arrived down the pier bang on time to join its visiting sibling loco 16303 (courtesy of the Amberley Museum) at the pier station. A birthday cake was cut and the crowd joined in with a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’. While ‘Rock the Pier’ got under way over on the Promenade there was plenty to interest visitors to the pier, including rides on the pier railway and historic Hythe Pier and Ferry artefacts. Adjacent to the pier at the Hythe Shed were exhibits from the Volks Electric Railway in Brighton, and the Romsey Signal Box. Also on display were vintage vehicles from the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu and the Waterside Christmas Fire Engine. A short distance away at the Community Centre the Romsey & District Railway Modelers Society set up an exhibition of working model railway layouts.

Rock the Pier 2022.

Hythe’s annual music festival day took place again on The Promenade adjacent to the waterfront and offering wonderful views of Hythe Pier. This year taking place as part of the ‘Rock the Train’ weekend, celebrating the centenary of Hythe Pier Railway.

A packed audience were able to enjoy the good weather and great music. Getting the show off to a rocking start at 12.45 were popular local band Trav Cats. Continuing the entertainment were Wire J-D, MagiKats, REMbrandt, When Harri met Alli before the ever popular Soulcatchers closed the day at 7.30pm. Thankyou to all our performers for giving their time for free. Spectators were also able to purchase HPHA merchandise and find out more about the project to preserve and restore Hythe Pier at the HPHA info stand. The event, organised and run by volunteers, raised nearly £8000 from donations, the Grand draw, merchandise and sponsorship.

Heritage Day 2018 – Saturday 27th October

A day of family fun, games and learning to celebrate the heritage of Hythe’s historic pier.

Ask the Expert with Alan Titheridge author of ‘Hythe Pier and Ferry – A History’ who has a huge wealth of knowledge on everything connected to the Ferries and Pier.

Music at the entrance to the Pier from New Forest Brass Training Band, Rock Choir and Waterside Community Choir.

Pop Up Cafe at the end of the Pier offering teas, coffees and delicious home-made cakes and great views over Southampton Water.

A chance to tour the train workshop and understand how the Hythe Pier Railway has been kept running for nearly 100 years.

Project 02 – Services survey of the pier

Ramboll was commissioned to examine the existing services to the Hythe Pier and to conduct a feasibility study into the renovation of the pier buildings, land and shore side. This feasibility study will look at the existing services provided, utilities infrastructure and what new services will be provided in the renovation of the Pier and its intended new use.

Statistics

Project Funding Organisations

This project was fully funded by HPHA from donations made by the Hythe community.

Project 01 – Initial survey of the pier

Ramboll was appointed to carry out an inspection of the pier to determine its structural arrangement and general condition. This was a high-level inspection, providing general observations and preliminary recommendations. The objectives of the inspection were to gain an initial idea of the current operational adequacy of the pier, identify any major defects and form an initial schedule of repairs.

Statistics

Project Funding Organisations

This project was fully funded by HPHA from donations made by the Hythe community.

One step closer to restoring Hythe Pier

In an exciting new development, we have started working on the south side building on Hythe’s Victorian Pier (built in 1894) to prevent further deterioration. Although this work is a temporary fix, it offers provisional protection to prevent further damage while plans are put in place and funding raised for a permanent restoration in the near future.

The temporary works being undertaken by DPB Contractors over the next three weeks include: removal and disposal of the internal asbestos sheeting; installation of guttering and battens and protective Perspex sheeting along the south elevation walls; and repairs to the glazing, internal flooring and lead roof.

Rich history of the south side

The building on the south side of the pier head was built in 1894 and extended in 1896 when that on the north side was erected. In 1894 the tenant of the south side building, the Hythe Sailing Club, used their clubhouse as dressing rooms for members.

At the outbreak of WWI in 1914, the Hythe Sailing Club handed their clubhouse over to the authorities for use in the war effort. The club declined to take up its option of re-occupation at the end of the war, so the premises were let to the YMCA. During 1921, the Royal Motor Yacht Club took up residence and immediately set about an extensive modernisation. Work was completed in March 1922 and the building was made up of “comfortable and roomy quarters”, including a large dining room, galley, bar, four berth sleeping cabins and a bathroom.

From the early 1950s until the mid-1970s the building was home to a restaurant. What will it be next? This is a very exciting thought and hopefully soon new life will be breathed into the building and it will take on another transformation.

(picture courtesy of Gary Woletz)

Updates to Carriage 4 Diary

A diary in words and pictures of the restoration of our carriage up to mid February 2021. To view the diary please press the READ MORE button

After that click on this link to the diary

Totton Timber delivers - by Alan Titheridge

Hythe Pier Railway Carriage Repair Underway

HPHA in conjunction with the Hythe Men’s Shed (at the Pier) has commenced repair work on the Hythe Pier Railway’s Carriage Number 4. The carriage, which has been gifted to the charity by Blue Funnel Ferries, is lying in the Hythe Ferry workshop and will be repaired to full operational and safety standards.

Carriage 4 by Alan Titheridge — by Alan Titheridge

Once this work has been effected it will be placed back on the track, replacing Carriage Number 3 which will be withdrawn for a complete restoration.

This is the start of a proposed full restoration of the tractors and rolling stock that has been running up and down Hythe Pier since July 1922.

2020 Annual General Meeting

The AGM took place on the 30th July 2020. The meeting was limited in scope and restricted to the members of the Board to comply with Government regulations. Another General Meeting of the entire membership will be organised at the earliest opportunity, once the current situation is resolved.

The agenda for the meeting can be accessed by clicking on the title below

HPHA-Agenda-AGM2020 Download

The Chair’s report can be accessed by clicking on the title below

HPHA-chair-report-2020 Download

The accounts for 2019-2020 with the Treasurer’s report is accessed by clicking on the title below

HPHA Accts Treasurer Report ye 2020 Download

One item was added to the Agenda in Any Other Notified Business. This is accessed by clicking on the title below

AOB-1-HPHA-AGM-2020 Download

Here are the minutes. Click on the title to view them.

Minutes 2nd AGM of HPHA 30.7.20 Download

An audio recording of the meeting was taken. Please press the “play” right arrow to hear it.

Blue Funnel Ferry Crowdfunder Appeal

Dear members, volunteers and to all those who follow and support the activities of the Hythe Pier Heritage Association.
I wanted to share with you our message of support for Blue Funnel Ferries, the operator of Hythe Ferry. I am sure that you are all aware that on April 18th the ferry operations were suspended due to the dramatic turn down in passenger footfall that followed the extraordinary measures imposed by central Government to control the Covid-19 epidemic here in the UK. Blue Funnel like so many small and medium sized businesses is now facing real challenges with great uncertainty and a complete collapse in demand for its services.
As you know the Hythe Pier Heritage Association has been working with Blue Funnel since 2017 in an effort to secure a new future for the Hythe Pier and the Hythe Pier Railway. The plans for the restoration of both of these assets are now taking shape and legal agreements between ourselves and Blue Funnel are at an advanced stage.
With design development for the pier restoration in progress and works to restore the pier railway all set to begin, this national emergency and health crisis could not have come at a worse moment.
The continuation and development of a vibrant and viable ferry operation is essential to the long term success of our community project. It would be a disaster if the ferry operator were to fail.
Our objects and purposes are two-fold, the first is to preserve, protect, restore and redevelop the pier, train and associated buildings and structures for the benefit of the community and the wider public. The second is to share and advance the education of the community and the wider public in the history and heritage of the pier, train and ferry.
This crisis is unprecedented and the circumstances are exceptional. Without the ferry our pier has no central purpose, without the pier the ferry has no landing place, the two are intrinsically linked, right now there is a common purpose and I have today made my own personal contribution. I therefore have no hesitation in asking you to support their appeal and I am sharing it on our face book page.

https://www.facebook.com/HythePierHA/
Peter King