Edward Bowhill - 28/01/2010

This book might have been better titled 'Seaside Piers from the Air', as many of the piers covered are illustrated with black and white photos from the early 20s through to the 60s. The use of aerial shots is this book's innovation, as such photos haven't been used in pier books before, and it's fascinating to see images of piers that have long gone, such as Folkestone, Rhyl, Lytham and Brighton West. The book is arranged in a clear gazetteer format (A-Z) and each pier has a concise history and several illustrations. Sadly the book was rendered out of date soon after publication with the serious fires at Weston and Fleetwood, making the archive photos of them herein all the more poignant. A worthy addition to the small number of pier books available.