Chris Iredale restored the pier to its former glory

The main purpose of the structure was as a landing stage for steamships bringing holiday makers to the area on the route from Great Yarmouth to Southend.

The timber pavilion structure was replaced in 1936 with a two-storey pavilion that still exists today.

The T-head shaped end of the pier was swept away in a violent storm in 1934 and was never replaced.

After being partly destroyed and weakened by sea-mines during the war, another severe storm in 1955 took away the majority of the pier.

Storm damage

In 1979 the final blow was another bad storm, which reduced its length to 100 feet.

Chris and Helen Irdale bought the pier in 1987 and began a major reconstruction project in 1999.

The work was completed in February this year with the addition of a T-end which extends the length of the new pier to 623 feet.

With the construction of the landing stage, managers aim to have a steamer ship dock there for the first time more than 70 years

Deal Pier in Kent, Britain's only post-war pier, was second in the annual competition and Hastings Pier in East Sussex third.