Iron Pier

Designed by John Dixon a London Engineer and built at a cost of £6500..

The charge (in 1874) was 1d a visit, 1s 6d a month or 5s per annum.

The Iron pier around 1890 - note the Falcon Cliff Dance Hall (demolished 1896)
the sheets on the beach are being dried after laundry for the boarding houses

[From Isle of Man Times, Saturday, 4th March 1876]

Douglas Iron Pier Company

THE annual meeting of the shareholders of the Iron Pier Company was held in St. James's Hall, Douglas, yesterday. In the absence of Mr H. B. Noble (chairman of the directors), his worship the High-Bailiff was called to the chair. There were also present: Messrs E. L. Watts and T. Cubbon, directors; W. Cowin, F. Falkner, D. Lyell, C. W. Shaw, G. Morrison, J. Goldsmith, A. Lewis, C. Cannell, E. Colbourne, J. Aspell, and W. Isdale (secretary).

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, remarked that nothing which had been provided for the amusement and recreation of the visitors and inhabitants generally had tended so much to the prosperity of Douglas as the Iron Pier. He did not think that any injury would be sustained by this undertaking from the grand public works which were being constructed in the town. Although large public places, such as the Loch Parade, the Victoria Pier, the Aquarium, &c, were being, or had been erected in the locality, the people wanted a place of quiet retirement, such as was provided by this Pier. Therefore, he hoped that the shareholders would not be in a desponding state because of grand works being erected close to the Iron Pier.

He looked upon this Company as a prosperous concern which would pay the shareholders very amply for the small outlay they had spent upon it. From their skilful management, the directors had been enabled to pay off the debt of £500 with which the Company had been encumbered. They were, at the present time, enabled to declare a dividend of 6 per cent, and that was quite as much as had been expected from the undertaking when started. He hoped that the Pier would be long continued, and that nothing would interfere with its prosperity. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report and accounts. Mr Lyell seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to.

The Directors' report stated that "During the past season there has been a considerable increase in the number of persons who annually support the Promenade Pier, and they have every confidence that the unrivalled marine parade which has been constructed along the margin of the beautiful bay of Douglas will add an additional attraction to those already possessed by this Pier. Her Majesty's Woods and Forests Department have recently executed the lease of the foreshore on which the Pier is erected in terms of their agreement with this Company, and have collected rent and fee payable therefore since October, 1869, amounting to £36 6s. The Directors have to report that Mr Cain, engineer, has successfully completed his contract with them for adding to the strength and stability of the outer end of the pier, and the woodwork of the structure has been thoroughly painted. Notwithstanding the exceptionally heavy items of expenditure, the nett profit for the past year is nearly equal to 8 per cent upon the share capital, out of which the Directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 6 per cent per annum, to be pavable to the shareholders on the 4th March instant, the balance, viz., £92 9s 3¼d, to be carried to the reserve fund, which will then amount to £105 12s 5d."

From the balance-sheet it appeared that the total liabilities of the Company amounted to £6,963 3s 1½d, and the assets to £7,355 12s 5d. The profit and loss account showed that the revenue from tolls, tickets, rents, and advertising spaces for the year ending 31st January last amounted to £639 17s 10d, which, with bank interest, £16 14s 4d, made the total receipts £696 12s 2d. The entire expenditure for the year amounted to £234 2s 10½d, leaving a nett profit of £452 9s 3½d.

The Chairman stated that the dividend would be payable this day (Saturday).

Messrs E. L. Watts and J. A. Fell, the retiring directors, were unanimously re-elected; and Mr C. W. Shaw was re-appointed auditor. On the motion of the Chairman, a vote of thanks was awarded to the directors, secretary, auditor, &c, for their services.

In reply to a shareholder, the Secretary stated that about 142,000 persons had visited the Pier during the last season. That was an increase of 2,000 over the previous year.