The Pier

The Pier is a quay and breakwater located in St. Mary's. It was initiated by Francis Godolphin shortly after 1601 and underwent rebuilding in 1740 and 1748. A new section extending north to Rat Island was constructed between 1835 and 1838 for Augustus Smith, the Lord Proprietor of the Islands, and it was lengthened in 1889 to accommodate the flower trade. The earlier arm into the harbour is made of granite rubble, partly using a vertically-coursed dry stonewall technique, while the later arms feature shaped granite blockwork. The breakwater has a canted wall on the seaward side. At the south entrance, there are two granite piers and cast-iron upturned cannon that have been repurposed as bollards. The construction of this pier was linked to the fortification of Hugh, which included Star Castle and the Garrison walls, also associated with Godolphin.