Have you climbed a vertical pier?
The Vertical Pier, at Redcar
Its setting on the waterfront is quite dramatic at sunset
With only the wind farm for company
And the odd boat or two
But when the lights come on, there’s just a hint of magic
Sadly I wasn’t there long enough to see it fully lit, nor to climb the tower. At £1.6 million it hardly represents value for money, but it is definitely different. Part of a regeneration programme to breathe new life into this North Yorkshire town, it’s not so much a pier as a viewing platform, with 360 degree views of Redcar.
Renamed the Redcar Beacon, following a public vote, the tower has free admission and cafe facilities on the ground floor. What was I doing in Redcar? Attending an open evening for a friend’s latest venture. If you happen to be passing, say ‘hello’ to The Clock Gallery. There are some great photos on show.
What are you up to this weekend? If you have some spare time, why not visit Cate at Show My Face, and play Six Word Saturday? Have a good week!
restlessjo 
That’s crazy looking!
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That was the local verdict! Crazy and expensive 😦
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Nice to see some regeneration taking place, especially when its free to go up!
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They don’t stand much chance, Gilly. There’s a huge petrochemical complex just around the bay 😦
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What an interesting structure!
Shadowy Six Words
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Definitely out of the ordinary 🙂
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But, the water reflections, sunset, clouds of these photos and the angle you took made the place look so much attractive. Especially the last one and #5 is a great shot.
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Glad you like them, Amy. 🙂 The area is very run down and definitely needs a new lease of life.
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A run-down place looks nice via your lens, amazing 🙂
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Wow! That is most unusual, Jo! With my fear of heights, I could never climb that, but I’m sure the view is spectacular, just like your photos!
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I’m reserving judgement on the view, Jill. Redcar is very rundown. They’ve replaced the seafront rather nicely, but just out of sight we have a huge petrochemical complex belching fumes into the air. 😦
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Intriguing this Jo – never seen anything like it! I wonder if I might get a bit seasick climbing up it 😉
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You could stay down on the prom with the candy floss, Sherri 🙂
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This is true…although I think I would prefer a pot of cockles 🙂
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Ugh! I don’t do things in shells 🙂 Not much of a candy floss person either, truth be told. Waffles with jam and cream are a bit of a weakness but I can’t remember the last time I had one. (I’m lying- I remember the sinfulness vividly but it was a while ago)
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I think I would take the lift!
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I think you’d have company, Ann 🙂
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Well, let’s hope it achieves it’s purpose, Jo – I can’t say it’s beautiful, but being in an industrial area, perhaps that’s just as well – the light, and that etherial pier of wind turbines is beautiful though, so I’m glad of the walk. 🙂
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There’s a long way to go, Meredith. I’m not a fan of the town but they definitely get marks for effort. 🙂
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I like it, but… priceeey!
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Candy floss and hot dogs are so much cheaper 🙂
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Shame you didn’t climb it – I wonder if you can slide down like a helter skelter?!
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That would make it worthwhile, Rich 🙂
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Somewhere else to visit! Has it worked I wonder – are people flocking to Redcar? Of course any increase in numbers could be entirely due to your blog 🙂
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Read the Redcar Beacon link, Robin. It was all highly controversial and the rest of the place is a dump, but they’re trying 🙂
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You have to admire the optimism Jo – that giant rabbit is scary though. Designed to repel rather than attract the kids? 🙂
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The Redcar Beacon looks amazing, Jo, but as you say the cost seems over the top. I wonder how much tourist pulling power it will have. Or how it will look in a few years time.
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It is pretty at night, but Redcar is a terrible-looking place, Tish, though I obviously shouldn’t say so! It desperately needs regenerating and from what I saw they’ve made a good start, but the High St which backs onto the front is not very inviting. They are right alongside a huge power plant too, which has been a blot on the landscape for years, and isn’t going any place any time soon.
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Hm. It’s so sad for communities when they become so ‘left over’. Not good for anyone’s spirits – inhabitants’ or visitors’.
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No, but clearly I must…
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I think you should! 🙂
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Looks an interesting effigy, but I wouldn’t be climbing it!
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Interesting is about right, Sue, and extremely controversial. 🙂
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Not been there yet Jo though I do keep getting hints from Margaret 🙂 I think the pier is a bit ‘marmite’ and I stand on the side of , don’t like it. I just see it in five years time resembling a scrap heap, especially when the helix turns rusty due to a lack of maintenance. I do like the windfarm however 🙂
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Poor old Redcar has so little going for it with Wilton right alongside, David, belching out fumes. It does all look quite pretty on the seafront at night and I wished I had longer but we were driving friends home from the open evening.
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And the double helix (or whatever) staircase is super for stopping people driving each other bonkers as they go up or come down …
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It is a bizarre feature, M-R, and extremely controversial. The Redcar Beacon link gives a lot more detail. 🙂
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I’ve tried twice now, and not had that link resolve. Is it because so many people follow your blog and they’re all clicking that link …?
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I doubt it, M-R 🙂 I’ve just clicked on it and it takes me through, no problem. Isn’t technology just frustrating? Suddenly I have my Comments emails back again, and I never did a thing!
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I’ll keep trying.
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I eventually reached a page of it, after waiting for TWO MINUTES, but it didn’t say anything about the beacon ! And it was impossible to navigate around the site, as every link seems to be taking the same amount of time. They need a new server if we antipodeans are going to be able to view their site. 😦
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Sorry you’ve wasted so much time 😦 It’s just a local council website. The budget must all have gone on the ‘pier’. The locals were up in arms about the expenditure on the seafront when they have a huge petrochemical factory spewing out rubbish at the end of the bay and many of the houses are in poor condition. Priorities!
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Ah, so that’s the niggle. Many thanks, Jo: now I get it. I was wondering why the locals wouldn’t be tickled to death – but understand with your clairification.
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Beautiful sunset photos Jo…it looks like a lovely spot
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The front is looking good, Seonaid, but what you don’t see is the industrial plant at the end of the bay! 😦
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I will gaze in awe at your pictures and at the twirly climb of the beacon, but I will not be climbing!
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It’s a very strange landmark, Viv, and looks straight along the coast to ICI Wilton 😦 Looks can be deceptive!
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It’s a bit dizzying to look at, with all those criss-crossing rails.
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And to be truthful the view includes some of our industrial heritage, so leaves a little to be desired. But they are trying to improve the place 🙂
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