Plans, submitted in 1870, for a 2000 foot pier were not taken up and the pier was, in fact, constructed under a parliamentary order of 1878. The last pile was driven on June 29th 1880 and the 2100 foot pier was opened on New Years Day 1881. The engineer was J.Wright. Ferries ran to Southampton.

Hythe Sailing Club was allowed to build a clubhouse on the pier-head in early 1894. In 1896, a £1500 overhaul was completed. A baggage line was added in 1909, and this was adapted to take passenger traffic after World War One. The 2 foot gauge, third-rail electric tramway opened in July 1922 using ‘Brush’ locomotives.

Major developments in 1947 involved the pontoon being moved from the head, where it had been erected in the 1930s, and connected by a bridge. The entrance was modernised in the 1960s. Shelters along the pier’s length were removed at this time. The pier-head buildings were developed in 1970/71.

The pier-head was re-planked in April/May 1982 but a structural survey, in 1983, estimated that repairs costing £250,000 were needed. These were duly completed in time for the 1988 summer season and included replacing the trusses on the inshore and middle sections of the pier. The actual cost of repairs was £290,000.

A half-hourly service to Southampton Town Quay was operated throughout the year, the journey taking approximately twelve minutes. Trains still carried passengers to the pier-head.

May 2016 – Ferry collides with Hythe pier
In May 2016, coastguards were called to rescue twenty passengers and three crew members from the Hythe Ferry after it collided with the pier. Fortunately there were only minor injuries. According to the ferry’s owners the vessel became wedged beneath the pier and the wheelhouse on top of the ferry was severely damaged.

October 2016 – Hythe Ferry and Pier at risk
In October 2016, the future of the Hythe ferry and pier came into doubt after White Horse Ferries admitted it was “unlikely” to continue operating the service. However, local businesses and the local community rallied round and a petition was set up to try and save the service, while other boat companies confirmed an interest in taking it over.

November 2016 – Could redevelopment be the way forward for Hythe Pier and Ferry?
After nearly 9,000 signed a petition calling for the ferry service from the pier to be saved, a committee was formed to take control of the pier. A packed public meeting in November 2016 was given ideas on saving the under-threat ferry service, including developing a heritage centre and an end-of-the-pier cafe.

December 2016 – Hythe Ferry service campaign backed by Dan Snow
The campaign to save Hythe pier and ferry service received a boost in December 2016 when television historian Dan Snow lent his backing, saying it was a “national treasure” which should be saved. The local community group aimed to take over the management of the pier and train.

February 2017 – Council provides emergency funding for Hythe Pier ferry
In February 2017, it was announced that Hampshire Council had provided emergency funding to enable the continued operation of the Hythe Ferry. The funding would cover the costs of chartering a replacement ferry while the current vessel undergoes maintenance work and could help to maintain the ferry service while new buyers were sought for the pier and ferry.

March 2017 – Fundraising gathers pace at Hythe Pier
In March 2017, members of the Hythe Pier heritage association celebrated after the end of the £20 challenge fund raising campaign in which community members signed up to any task, paying £20 towards the fund to help save the pier. The challenge included supporters walking up and down the pier for three hours, 21 triathlons and the younger generations staying silent for 24 hours. The challenge was part of the campaign to reach a target of £20,000 which would be used to cover structural surveys of the pier, charity start up fees and organisational costs.

April 2017 – Hythe Ferry and Pier sold
Then, in April 2017, it was announced that boat hire firm Blue Funnel Cruises had agreed to buy Hythe ferry, which crosses Southampton Water, for an undisclosed sum, a deal which also included the purchase of Hythe Pier and the railway that runs along it. A spokesman for the Hythe Pier Train and Ferry Action Group said they would hold discussions with Blue Funnel about the pier, which he said needed “substantial long-term investment”.

May 2017 – Hythe Pier Heritage Association gain backing from parish council
The following month, it was announced that Hythe and District Parish Council were looking positively at helping Hythe Pier Heritage Association (HPHA) forge ahead with plans to secure the long-term future of the pier. HPHA were hoping to employ a project development co-ordinator and the council agreed that recent savings made by the authority could be used to finance the role.

July 2017 – Garage fire near Hythe Pier
In July 2017, over 50 firefighters were called to tackle a blaze that had broken out in a garage close to Hythe Pier. Fortunately, the pier escaped any damage.

October 2017 – Campaigners mark centenary of Hythe Pier electric locos
October 2017 saw a celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of Hythe Pier railway. The community group aiming to take over the running of the pier organised a series of heritage events and rides on the train as part of its fundraising efforts.

February 2018 – Hythe Pier Heritage Association forge ahead with plans after being awarded new status
In February 2018, it was announced that the community group aiming to take over the running of the pier had been awarded registration as a Community Benefits Society by the Financial Conduct Society, which would enhance its legal standing and enable it to apply for grants from organisations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund.

February 2019 – Restoration plans get underway as Hythe Pier donated to community group
Operator Blue Funnel gifted the pier to Hythe Pier Heritage Association which planned to raise £3m to restore it.
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July 2019 – Hythe’s Rock the Pier event a great success
Hampshire residents turned out for a music festival to help fund a major restoration project. It was organised by campaigners including Hythe Pier Heritage Association (HPHA). As well as providing entertainment for people of all ages the event was staged to restore the jetty to its former glory.
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April 2020 – Hythe Pier train remains on track with a £10,000 grant!
In April 2020, a £10,000 was received from the Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation, a charity that supports local organisations and individuals. HPHA chairman Peter King said: “This is a great start to our funding campaign to support the restoration of historic and much-loved pier railway”.
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May 2020 – Hythe Pier and ferry funding campaign doubles its target
In May 2020, a fundraising appeal launched to keep a Hampshire ferry service afloat raised more than £12,000 – far exceeding its original target. Some of the money raised by the campaign was marked towards the cost of repairing Hythe Pier and the electric train which takes passengers to and from the ferry.
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August 2020 – Restoration of Hythe Pier train begins!
Volunteers embarked on a £222,000 project in August 2020 to restore a historic train that had been operating on Hythe pier for almost 100 years. Hythe Pier Heritage Association launched the ambitious scheme by starting to refurbish one of the wooden carriages that had been trundling along the jetty since 1922.
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November 2020 – Hythe Pier ferry offered financial support from local authorities
In November, the ferry operator was thrown a £45,000 lifeline as it battled to survive the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. Three local authorities joined forces to support the Blue Funnel service between Hythe Pier and Town Quay in Southampton. The ferry was still recovering from the start of the pandemic when England went into lockdown for the second time earlier in the month.
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January 2021 – Restoration of Hythe Pier head buildings to begin
In January, it was announced the next stage in a £220,000 project to restore Hythe Pier would focus on its revamping buildings which date as far back as 1894. The Hythe Pier Heritage Association set out a plan of works to safeguard the future of the historical structure. Architects and surveyors were looking at the preservation options for the pier head buildings as although the one on the north side, which houses the waiting room, was in reasonable shape structurally, the other was giving cause for concern.
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February 2021 – Campaigners fight to save Hythe Pier ferry
Hythe resident Ashleigh Mutimear embarked on a quest to raise at least £60,000 for the service, which normally operates between Hythe Pier and Town Quay. Sailings had been suspended for two months, with Tier 4 restrictions being followed by the latest lockdown. Ashleigh’s Crowdfunding page said: “The Hythe Ferry is no longer ‘in danger’. It will close for good in the next few months unless we help”.
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March 2021 – Campaign to save Hythe Pier Ferry continues as Government refuses to offer support
The government did not offer any extra cash after the plight of the under-threat Hythe ferry was raised with ministers by New Forest East MP Julian Lewis. It had been announced by operator Blue Funnel that it had “run out of money” and the service, which was currently not running due to lockdown, would not be starting up again when restrictions eased.
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March 2021 – Councils step-in to rescue Hythe Pier ferry
Three councils pledged to provide £67,500 of funding to keep the “vital” Hythe ferry afloat. New Forest District Council, Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council each confirmed they wwould give the service £7,500 a month for three months. Lee Rayment, manging director of operator Blue Funnel Ferries, had warned that the ferry faces going under without help, and said he was “pleased” at the new funding pledges, adding they would enable the boat to be refitted completely for when the service resumes, which is likely to be in June.
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May 2021 – Walking the Pier to save Hythe Ferry
Fundraisers walked up and down Hythe Pier in a bid to save a vital transport link. Ashleigh Mutimear spearheaded an attempt to raise at least £60,000 for the Hythe Ferry, which had been hit by the economic impact of the Covid crisis.
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June 2021 – Hythe Pier ferry saved by community fundraising
In June, it was reported that more than £60,000 had been raised to rescue Hythe Ferry, which links the Waterside and Southampton. The ferry stopped running in December when the owners confirmed it could not afford to resume crossings. More than £37,500 was raised by the community through a crowdfunded. In addition, Southampton City Council, New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council joined forces to donate a grant of £22,500.
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August 2021 – Hythe Pier gains listed status
In August, the 700-yard pier – said to be the seventh longest in the UK – was awarded listed building status by Historic England. The move could help Hythe Pier Heritage Association (HPHA) secure the funds needed to refurbish the pier and its narrow gauge electric railway. A HPHA spokesperson said: “Listing marks a building’s significance and celebrates its special architectural and historic interest. It brings specific protection so that its special interest can be properly considered in managing its future.”
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September 2021 – ‘Rock the Pier’ event raises over £7000 towards Hythe Pier refurbishment
Anthony Smith, chairman of Hythe Pier Heritage Association, said: “HPHA is proud to have staged such a successful event and is delighted with the amount raised towards its goal of restoring Hythe’s listed Victorian pier and its iconic railway.”
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October 2021 – Pub’s successful fundraiser for Hythe Pier – we’ll drink to that!
The Lord Nelson pub raised £1,000 towards the cost of refurbishing Hythe Pier and its 99-year-electric railway. Publican Leighton O’Hara presented the cheque to members of the Hythe Pier Heritage Association (HPHA), and said: “The Lord Nelson has chosen to donate £1,000 to such a worthy cause.”
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January 2022 – Centenary celebrations planned for Hythe Pier train!
Described as the oldest operating pier train in the world, it takes passengers to and from the ferry that operates from the end of the 700-yard jetty. Passengers have included King George VI, who visited the area ahead of the D-Day landings in 1944. Now members of Hythe Pier Heritage Association (HPHA) are drawing up plans to mark the line’s century of service to people travelling to Southampton and back.
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May 2022 – Hythe Pier is on a new track!
Work has begun to restore Hythe Pier’s historic train track following a successful donation appeal. A new track will be installed and the timber supporting it will be replaced in a project being carried out by the Hythe Pier Heritage Association.
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June 2022 – Hythe Pier train centenary celebrations planned for July
The railway, which opened in July 1922, is the world’s oldest continuously running electric railway on a pier. Hythe Pier Heritage Association (HPHA) plan to mark the historic occasion with a series of events on the 23rd and 24th of July, including a music festival and model exhibition.
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July 2022 – Hythe Pier train centenary celebrations rock!
This year’s Rock the Pier event marked the longevity of the electric train that takes passengers to and from the Hythe ferry, which berths at the end of the 700-yard pier. In 1944 it was used by King George VI, who visited the Southampton area to review preparations for the D-Day landings.
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September 2022 – Hythe’s Rock the Pier event a huge success!
Rock the Pier was staged by Hythe Pier Heritage Association (HPHA), which was carrying out repairs to the 700-yard jetty and its narrow-gauge electric railway. Now members of HPHA announced that the celebration netted £8,500 – an increase of £1,000 on the sum raised the previous year.
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December 2022 – Hythe ferry to cease trading
Director Lee Rayment said there was “no alternative” but to cease trading on 31 December due to rising costs and low passenger numbers.”In fact, we are now running at a loss, which cannot be sustained during the historically quiet winter months,” he said.
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December 2022 – Hythe Pier ferry service continues as new owners are sought
The operators of a ferry service which announced it was to cease trading said it will continue running while a new owner is sought. Blue Funnel previously said Hythe Ferry was “no longer financially viable”.
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July 2023 – Rocking the Pier at Hythe!
In July, it was announced that Rock The Pier was returning to Hythe with a packed programme of live music. Musicians would appear throughout the day on a specially erected stage on the Promenade behind the Lord Nelson public house.
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July 2023 – Potential new owner for Hythe Pier ferry
Blue Funnel director Lee Rayment said discussions with the potential new owner were “progressing”. He added: “We are pushing for an end-of-August completion but these things are never simple. We are being financially underwritten so the ferry remains in service.”
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September 2023 – Hythe Pier Ferry bought by Red Funnel
In September, Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel took over the passenger link across Southampton Water. The operator of the Hythe Ferry, Blue Funnel, had suffered from rising costs and low passenger numbers since the Covid pandemic.
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September 2023 – Hythe Pier Heritage Day
Free train rides, a heritage bus, model railway demos and a children’s treasure trail were some of the activities lined up for the Hythe Pier Heritage Association’s Heritage Day on Saturday September 16th from 10.30am.
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October 2023 – Hythe Pier railway track restoration underway
Hythe Pier Heritage Association was restoring the first 45 metres of track on the 640-metre pier – the seventh longest in the UK. Rails that had been in place for decades had been lifted and old sleepers at the shore-end station had also been taken up.
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November 2023 – Remembering the slicing of Hythe Pier by the Donald Redford
In November, The Southern Daily Echo published an article marking the 20th anniversary of the incident, which saw the Marchwood-based Donald Redford destroy a 50ft section of the Victorian structure, causing £300,000 of damage.
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