The further collapse of the West Pier today has touched Brighton, with the city almost united in sadness at seeing it slowly reclaimed by the sea. 

But it isn't the first ghostly wreck to grace our seafront. Henry Holloway looks back through the archives at the lost Chain Pier.

The Royal Suspension Chain Pier was the very first pier to be erected in Brighton. Back in 1823, it predates the West Pier by 43 years and the Palace Pier by 76 years, and stood proudly along the seafront until it was destroyed by a storm.

Before Brighton was a seaside pleasure resort, the city was one of the many cross channel ports that accepted goods from all over the continent.

The Chain Pier played a big role in the booming English Channel trade as it was originally designed as loading and unloading pontoon for ships going to and from Dieppe, France.

The pier extended 352 metres from the promenade and was structured with four cast iron pylon-shaped towers which hoisted the chains that suspended the piers deck.

As the Chain Pier took on loads of freight and passengers from the sailing and steam ships that made for the south coast, it eventually became a sight for tourists and the idea of a pleasure pier was seeded.

A toll booth was opened at the foot of the pier and kiosks selling seaside souvenirs and sweets began to open along its length to take advantage of the fast growing commercial interest.

However the beginning of the end for the pier was in 1841 when the first trains arrived in Brighton and in 1847 the line was extended to reach Newhaven.

Newhaven was a much deeper port allowing for larger ships and thus larger amounts of cargo to be deposited - taking business away from Brighton and the Chain Pier.

The Chain Pier continued to decline and its demise was hastened by the opening of the West Pier in 1866.

When plans were announced for the Palace Pier, one of the conditions for planning was the demolition of the now dilapidated and abandoned Chain Pier.

But before demolition work could start a storm swept in on December 4, 1896 and washed the wreck away into the sea.