Royal landing point undergoes refurbishment

[ THE Port of London Authority (PLA) is investing £800,000 in replacing the roof and refurbishing the interior of Royal Terrace Pier in Gravesend, a Grade Two-listed building that dates from the 1840s. Work began in September and the roof replacement is due to be completed in April.

Royal Terrace Pier is the base for vessels in the PLA’s pilotage, hydrographic and harbour service operations. It is also home to Gravesend lifeboat station, which is manned 24 hours a day.

PLA’s civil engineer Nick Jordan explained: “This is a major refurbishment, which is being fully managed by the PLA’s civil engineering team. The project includes the use of local roofing specialists and uses Welsh slate, which is in keeping with the original materials used on this important and historic building. Once this is completed, the interior will be refurbished, which will secure the future use of the building.”

Royal Terrace Pier was given that name as it was where Princess Alexandra of Denmark, later Queen Alexandra, landed in the 1880s before her marriage to the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. The PLA purchased the pier in the early 2000s from Alexandra Towage. q