Sandown is comfortably near the middle of a 5-mile long stretch of golden sand known as Sandown Bay. Despite being in the Domesday Book¹, it was not until 1789 when John Wilkes, a former mayor of London, retired to Sandown that Sandown became known as a "watering hole". Previously it had been little except a fishing village, castle and military garrison.

When the Ryde-Shanklin Railway opened in 1864, Sandown's population grew at a rate faster than any other town, offering exceptional sea-bathing. Visitors who stayed at Sandown included the Crown Prince and Princess
of Germany, and Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll.

Building The Pier

Plans to build a pier were considered as early as the 1860s, yet it was not until 1874 that an Act of Parliament allowing work to begin on the pier was passed, and work began in 1876. By 1879, the pier opened, but was only 360 ft. long. The Sandown Pier Company Ltd. had ran out of funds.

In 1887, a new company - the Sandown Pier Extension Company Ltd. bought the pier. The company was owned mainly by Richard Webster - the MP for the Isle of Wight at the time. Richard Webster's father Thomas had owned the Beachfield Estate in Sandown, and had done much to develop Sandown as a tourist resort. For example, he had funded Sandown's waterworks that prevented sewage being dumped into the sea, out of his own pocket. Richard Webster was also fond of Sandown, and when he became Chief Justice of England in 1900, the title he chose was Lord Alverstone².

By 1895, the pier was extended to 875 feet, and a domed pavilion was built and opened on the pier on the 17th September, 1895. Much of Sandown was decorated for the event, and a regatta held in it's honour. Surviving photographs show the splendour of the town that day. Bathing was allowed at the pier head, and at the bottom of the pier, several bathing machines were in constant use. It
was whilst in Sandown that Lewis Carroll³ wrote "The Hunting Of The Snark", which includes the words:

"The fourth is its fondness for bathing machines,

Which it constantly carries about,

And believes that they add to the beauty of scenes -

A sentiment open to doubt."

Paddle-steamers called regularly at the pier head until the Great War of 1914.

The World War Years

During the war, Lord Alverstone died, and the Sandown Urban District Council offered Lord Alverstone's trustees £2,500 for the pier. After which, the pavilion was enlarged and the Sandown Prize Band⁴ often played on the pier. After the war bathing machines were no longer used, except as changing cubicles, and the town adopted to the "continental" method of changing in tents along the shore.

In 1933 a pavilion was built on the pier head, and it was opened on October 23rd 1934 by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Jellicoe. The pavilion was used as a ballroom, and many steamers continued to call at Sandown Pier, including, from 1934, the Sandown. During the war, the pier was sectioned⁵ and the Sandown was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and used as a
minesweeper⁶.

Post War

After the war, the pier needed to be repaired, especially the landing stage. During the 50s, Sandown enjoyed popularity while bucket and spade holidays became popular again, and often held the All-England Sunshine Record. Between 1957-1959, there was even a direct passenger service to Portsmouth from Sandown Pier, a journey of 75 minutes, and the pier is still visited occasionally by
paddle-steamers.

In 1965, when Lord Louis Mountbatten was installed as Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip toured the Island, at the end of which, the Queen attended a ceremony at the pavilion before boarding the Royal Barge moored at the end of the pier.

In 1968, the pier needed to be rebuilt after nearly a century's town service. The old pavilion was pulled down and a new pavilion on the shore end built. This was used as a theatre, and for the first time, theatre-goers did not have to brave wet and windy weather in winter. On 22nd July 1973, the pier was re-opened by Earl Mountbatten.

Over the years, several of England's most famous stars have appeared at the pier's theatre, which was the largest on the Island; including the Nolan Sisters, Jimmy Tarbuck, Gene Pitney, Sir Bernard Miles, Sir Harry Secombe, Pam Ayres, Jasper Carrott, Diana Dors, Roy Castle, Cannon and Ball, Jim Davidson, Matt Monroe, Cilla Black, Lennie Henry, Norman Wisdom, Des O'Conner, Bob
Monkhouse, Little and Large and Frankie Howerd.

In 1989, the pier suffered from a fire in the theatre, yet after new fire-exits were constructed and the latest fire-fighting equipment installed, the pier opened as good as new.

In 1999 the theatre sadly closed, and was replaced by a golfcourse and a bowling lane. The pier still hosts an amusement's arcade, bar, restaurant, dodgems, shops⁷ and even, occasionally, a small market, and remains popular with tourists, fishermen⁸ and those wishing a seaside cruise today.