IT'S the most famous, popular and best-loved pier in the world and it's 100 years old this week.

Brighton's Palace Pier opened to the public in May 1899, and it has had a place in the hearts and minds of local people and visitors ever since.

Brighton was the first town in Britain to have a pier when the Chain Pier opened in 1823. This was followed in 1866 by the West Pier, arguably the most beautiful in Britain in its heyday.

But by the 1890s it became clear the old Chain Pier would not last much longer and a new one was proposed.

The Brighton Marine Palace And Pier Company was formed to put up the new structure opposite the Old Steine on condition that the Chain Pier was removed.

Work started on building the new pier in 1891, but progress was slow because of rough seas and high winds.

There was no need to demolish the Chain Pier after all because the great storm of December 4, 1896, made sure nature did the job.

But wreckage from the old structure caused considerable damage, not only to the new pier under construction but also to Volk's Railway and the West Pier.

The company almost went bust through claims for damages, but it survived and the new pier was ready eight years after work began.

It was a modest affair compared with today's ornate structure. There was a decorated archway, a platform and a few kiosks. But it was a success from the start.

Gradually, additions were made. The landing stage and the pavilion on the pier head were completed in 1901.

Awindscreen running the length of the pier was built five years later and in 1911 a bandstand was set up in the middle and a winter garden near the shore end.

Decorated in Oriental style, the pavilion - the marine palace of the pier company's name - was a kitsch version of the Royal Pavilion up the road, splendid and vulgar at the same time. Originally it contained dining, smoking and reading rooms but in 1911 it was changed into a theatre and cafe.

The pier attracted millions of visitors each year, even though they had to pay a toll, and it quickly eclipsed the West Pier in popularity. Trippers loved its raffish air.

Improvements were made in 1930 when the prom was widened. The distinctive clock tower came from the neighbouring Aquarium, which had recently been remodelled.

One of the pier's best years was 1939, when there were more than two million visitors.

But the war forced its closure and a section of decking was removed to prevent any attempt by the enemy to land.

After the war the pier regained its previous popularity as most Britons headed for a fortnight by the sea each summer.

Stars including Dick Emery, Tommy Trinder and Elsie and Doris Waters appeared in summer shows at the theatre right up to the Seventies.

But in the Sixties there was a growing tendency for people to take their holidays abroad rather than at home and the pier began to suffer. At the same time, the small company which had always run the pier began to find that its upkeep was a major liability.

In 1973, disaster struck suddenly and unexpectedly. A fierce squall blew up one October day, setting loose a barge which had been tied to the landing stage.

The 70-ton barge started to batter the pier head and huge chunks of it fell into the sea.

Eventually parts of the historic theatre began to collapse and there were fears for the whole future of the pier.

But the storm abated as swiftly as it had started and the barge was removed. The theatre was never used again and was eventually taken down, to be placed in store.

There are hopes that one day it will be rebuilt.

The experience of the storm helped convince the old company more investment was needed and in 1984 the pier was sold to the Noble Organisation.

Noble immediately set about rescuing and restoring the pier. The firm abolished tolls and offered free deckchairs, immediately increasing the number of visitors, and kept the pier open into the evening instead of closing at dusk.

It soon became the biggest leisure attraction in the South East and has more than four million visitors a year.

The clash between its listed status and its role as a pleasure pier has been epitomised in the current dispute between Noble and Brighton and Hove Council over the positioning of rides on the pier. This issue will now be decided by the Environment Department after a public inquiry.

But the future of the Palace Pier is assured. It is in good condition and walking over the waves in safety remains a highly popular pastime.

May the pier give as much pleasure during the next century as it has to millions over the last 100 years.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.