It may be temporarily closed due to Coronavirus, but our historic pier should be welcoming back visitors soon.

From Victorian promenades to glamorous concert parties, beauty contests and Punch and Judy festivals, Southend Pier has seen it all over the decades.

The mile-long attraction has undergone many changes and makeovers since it was built in 1830, not to mention fires and accidents. But it’s still standing proudly.

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An early photo of the pier - this was taken in around 1900

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That’s the way to do it - mums, dads and kids gather to watch a Punch and Judy show on the pier in 1990

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Dancers - the glamorous Jeanne Cavalcade Girls were a huge draw at the Bouquet Concert Party

Our gallery shows some of the many events that have taken place on the pier, such as a ‘Mannequin parade’ in 1932, when local beauties and models showed off the latest bathing suit trends.

>> Southend Pier re-opening date revealed after three-month closure

Another photo shows girl dancers from a concert party that was the hottest ticket in town back in the 1930s and took place over a mile out to sea at the end of the pier.

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The old horse tram - it used to transport visitors to and from the pier head

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Old entrance - the pier entrance in the early 1900s

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Does this bring back any memories?

Other photos are from the hugely popular Punch and Judy festival which took place every years at the end of the pier.

Another is a rare image of the horse-drawn tramway that used to ferry visitors to the pierhead before the days of the electronic train.

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Before the electric railway - Victorian visitors to Southend take a pleasant stroll along the pier