Victoria Pier (Douglas)
Description: Victoria Pier forms part of Douglas Harbour on the east coast of the Isle of Man (NGR 23875 47527). Brown's Isle of Man Guide of 1879 says, "This new landing place is called "The Queen Victoria Pier." after her Majesty. It cost about £48,000 and is about 1100 feet long. It was opened with considerable formality on the 1st July 1872. Before its erection passengers were generally landed in small boats, but happily that nuisance has been abolished." (p.33) and "In the evenings the Victoria Pier is uncomfortably crowded by cars, porters, touters, and visitors who come down to meet the steamers and a lively scene is the certain consequence...here too are wandering gleemen and other "professionals," "singing men and singing women" "minstrel boys" who would be much better with "Mavors Spelling Book"... in their hands, than thrumming on the banjo, or scraping the catgut for fools' pence." (p.34)