Once Southampton's playground, the Royal Pier was an elegant city landmark for decades but then in 1979, quite literally, the rot set in and the historic structure closed its doors forever.

Its fate was sealed by two huge fires, one in 1987 and the other five years later, which ripped through the old pavilion and the acres of timber decking leaving the Royal Pier nothing more than a collection of twisted metal and charred remains.

For years the Royal Pier was left abandoned until just recently when the city council announced it was seeking proposals to transform the area into an attractive wate4rfront district.

The original pier was opened by Princess Victoria just prior to becoming queen, in 1833 and during the years that followed a wide range of additions and improvements, including a floating pontoon and the construction of a railway station, were made to the structure.

In the late 19th century a major redevelopment took place and in the years leading up to the First World War were considered the Royal Pier's hey-day as it provided a whole entertainment, including dancing, concerts, exhibitions, and even roller-skating from 1906.

By the 1920s the railway station had disappeared but Royal Pier had become the centre for ferry operations not only to and from the Isle of Wight, but also to destinations all along the South Coast.

The distinctive "wedding cake'' gatehouse was opened in 1930 and has remained a familiar part of the local landscape ever since.

On September 29, 1931 Flt Lt G R Stamforth set the world speed record, flying the Supermarine S.B.6 over Southampton Water and, until the 1960s, his aircraft was housed adjacent to Southampton Royal Pier as a visitor attraction.

During the Second World War the pavilion remained closed as it was a target for German bombers, but it was re-opened in 1947 having been leased by Mecca Entertainment. In 1963 the pavilion was extended at a cost of over £100,000 and converted to a Ballroom. By 1979 the Mecca Ballroom had ceased trading, and the 900ft (273m) pier closed on 31st December of the same year, being described by the British Transport Docks Board as no longer 'viably maintainable'.

During the Second World War the pavilion remained closed as it was a target for German bombers, but it was re-opened in 1947 having been leased by Mecca Entertainment.

In 1963 the pavilion was extended at a cost of over £100,000 and converted to a ballroom, which many local people still remember with great affection.

By 1979 the ballroom had ceased trading, and the 900ft pier closed on December 31 of the same year, being described by the British Transport Docks Board as no longer "viably maintainable''.