Page 103 - KBHA Bulletin 16

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The Foreshore Promenade and Adderley Street Pier in detail

The completed Foreshore Scheme comprised a Promenade 40 ft wide, the Marine Drive

with a carriageway of 50 ft providing a new route to the suburbs, and an ornamental

Plantation of trees 30 ft wide. A row of palm trees was planted along its inner margin –
and some are still there today, as is the name Old Marine Drive running between the

railway station and Civic Centre. The Promenade was protected on the seaside by a
tubular railing and on the carriageway side by a post and chain barrier. The curve

adjacent the Central Jetty was filled in to improve the approach to the above. The whole

in length was 2600 ft (about one half mile) towards the intersection with the HWM at
Woodstock. (Figs. 3.16 & 3.17.)

The completed Promenade Pier consisted of three elements: the Adderley Street

Approach, the Circus, and the Pier proper. The Approach was the bottom end of Adderley

Street in front of the Railways goods-yards and Monument station, and over 100 ft wide
along a length of 350 ft with a grassed centre island. The Circus resolved the junction of

the Marine Drive with Adderley Street and was 200 ft in diameter with the statue of van
Riebeeck (presented to the City by Rhodes) at its centre – it is currently occupied by the

Fountain. (Fig. 3.18.)

The Pier itself consisted of the old Central Jetty that had been widened and raised so that

it conformed to the new pier structure and its 1000 ft extension into the bay. It was
entered on foot through ornamental gates for the price of 3d – a tickey. Its width between

parapets was 45 ft and this widened at regular intervals to 60 ft where seating bays
punctuated its margins. The main deck ran 15 ft above sea level towards the Pierhead and

was clear of all obstructions that could impair views. Before reaching the wide area at the

Pierhead, 185 ft x 100 ft, the main deck was divided by a broad stairway that gave access
to a higher level promenade, 10 ft above the main deck and 12 ft wide, below which were

located various rooms and shelters. This higher level enclosed three sides of the 2000-
seater Concert Pavilion and Restaurant designed by John Parker. It was said to resemble

those at Brighton and Eastbourne. It led to the entrance to the Observation Tower. At the

Pierhead there was another tea-room and the landing stage for larger boats, and at lower