This, Walton’s second pier, was owned by the Walton Pier & Hotel Company Ltd. It was originally built to a length of 530 feet in the 1870s. However, the lack of water at the pier-head meant that passengers often had to transfer to small boats to come ashore. The pier was, therefore, rebuilt. It re-opened in August 1898 to a length of 2600 feet and included a single line electric tramway which survived until 1935 when it was replaced by an unusual battery-powered carriage. In 1937, the New Walton Pier Company bought the pier and battery car.

On May 30th 1942, the pier and car were damaged by fire but were rebuilt after the war. When the pier re-opened for the 1948 summer season, a diesel-engine locomotive was used for carrying passengers. The railway ceased operation in the 1970s.

There were serious storms on 11th January and 31st December 1978, the latter creating a 108 foot gap at the seaward end, isolating the lifeboat station.

In October 2011, the pier was put up for sale with an asking price of £2.5million, the owners saying that they were selling the pier in order to reinvest the money into other aspects of their business. However, in February 2012 it was taken off the market, at least temporarily, with reports that it had failed to attract interest at the asking price.

February 2015 – Former Walton Pier’s Victorian Carousel goes under the hammer
The Victorian carousel built in 1889 and which was the main feature on the pier from 1948-2008 was expected to fetch an estimated £100,000 at auction in February 2015.

July 2016 – New owner buys pier and vows to bring back the glory days for top attraction
In July 2016, Walton-on-the Naze Pier was purchased by Russell Bolesworth who announced plans to bring back the attraction’s glory days. Mr Bolesworth said: “It was a great opportunity to buy an attraction with really fantastic history. It is a huge site with lots of potential and I’m really excited about it. I love the idea of bringing the glory days back to Walton Pier.”

May 2017 – Trains and Piers – a winning combination at Walton on the Naze!
In May 2017 it was announced that one of the world’s most famous steam locomotives, the Tornado 60163 – the first Peppercorn class A1 steam train to be made since they were scrapped in 1966 – would make history when it arrives in Walton to commemorate the town rail station’s 150th anniversary in the coming August, on a return journey from London Liverpool Street to Walton railway station.

June 2017 – New pier boss pledges £1.5m revamp to pull in bumper crowds
In June 2017, Russel Bolesworth, the new boss of Walton Pier, announced that he would be submitting a planning application in the Autumn to Tendring Council detailing a £1.5 million pound plan to upgrade the pier to make it a major tourist attraction for the area.

September 2018 – To launch or not to launch at Walton Pier?
Walton and Frinton Lifeboat had to find a new mooring at Titchmarsh Marina for three weeks after a structural survey raised questions over the future use of the pier.

December 2019 – Experimental audio documentary based on Walton Pier soundscapes to be aired on BBC Radio 3
Composed of three movements, Hidden Sounds of Coastal Arcades is based upon the architecture of Walton Pier, beginning in the bustling arcade, then moving into the cacophonous fairground and finishing above the water at the end of the pier itself. Best experienced on headphones, Hidden Sounds of Coastal Arcades was due for broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Saturday, December 21, at 9.50pm.
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January 2021 – Residents call for the restoration of Walton Pier
Residents urged the owners of Walton Pier to restore the coastal landmark to its glory days. The calls came after a photograph was published online showing a section of roof with holes on the side. The pier owner, businessman Russell Bolesworth bought the site in 2016, promising to turn the ageing jewel into a top tourist destination. Nearly five years on since Mr Bolesworth made his vow, residents remained dissatisfied by the state of the pier.
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February 2021 – Storm Darcy causes damage to Walton Pier
The pier’s owner was hoping the destructive Storm Darcy would begin to ease off so repairs could be made to the pier’s structure before any further damage occured. Mr Bolesworth said “there is damage and a bit of a weak point, and it is moving around a bit because it does not have a lot of support now.”
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January 2022 – Major revamp underway at Walton-on-the-Naze Pier
The popular seaside attraction is set to undergo a “significant” investment in time for the summer season. Pier owner Russell Bolesworth purchased the site in 2016 and promised to turn the ageing jewel into a top tourist destination.
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February 2022 – Plans submitted as part of Walton on the Naze Pier refurbishment
Owner Russell Bolesworth has applied to Tendring Council for proposed minor external alteration, including construction of a new rear extension. The blueprints show the existing nine ten-pin bowling lanes could be replaced with adventure golf and that a new six-lane bowling area would be built, alongside escape rooms, a children’s soft play area and a new food and drink area.
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May 2022 – Walton Pier reopening is delayed until June
The seaside attraction is undergoing “significant” investment and it was hoped it could be open in time for the jubilee celebrations. It will soon boast a new arcade area, set to be the longest in the UK at 115 metres, as well as the latest arcade games and a virtual reality simulator. There will also be four new escape rooms, with six more planned, and new bowling alleys.
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Jul 2022 – Walton Pier fully open after major refurbishment
The full complement of rides, bowling and other attractions opened on Saturday, July 16. A spokesman for Walton Pier said: “The virtual reality ride and bowling is finished and the escape rooms are coming along nicely”.
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July 2022 – Walton Pier grand re-opening is set to go with a bang!
Walton Pier is holding a free fireworks display on Saturday from 9pm to commemorate its reopening. Guests can also enjoy the entertainment site’s fairground rides free of charge from 6pm until 9pm.
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September 2022 – Walton Pier bowling alley commemorated in a new book
A book by Steven Walker covering the Walton Pier Bowl and aiming to preserve the memories the busy venue held for residents was published in September. Families across Tendring contributed their personal stories in memory of the Ten Pin bowling club.

February 2023 – Walton Pier scales new heights!
In February, Walton Pier unveiled its new Vertigo climbing walls and attendees got to enjoy the attraction for the first time on Saturday, February 11. The Vertigo climbing walls opened to anyone aged four and above as long as participants were comfortable with a harness.
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May 2023 – Walton Pier offering free rides this Saturday
The pier in Walton, which is the third longest in the country, was offering free use of its rides on Saturday. The event, which ran between 7pm and 10pm, also saw a free fireworks display take place in the seaside town.
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August 2023 – RNLI leave Walton Pier
The move followed the retirement of the last person on station with launch authority and “infrastructure issues” with Walton pier, the RNLI said.
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January 2024 – Updated book devoted to Walton Pier Bowl to be released
The move followed the retirement of the last person on station with launch authority and “infrastructure issues” with Walton pier, the RNLI said.
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May 2024 – Walton Pier gets an appearance in Great Coastal Railway Journeys
Michael Portillo visited Essex in a railway journey from Canvey Island to Wrabness. Walton-on-the-Naze was reached along the journey and Walton Pier was visited with reference to its angling community. It can be noted during this segment that the seaward half of the pier was still barricaded, certainly a disappointing sight which highlights the difficulties in running a pier of this nature. The RNLI abandoned the lifeboat berth at the pier head in 2023 due to “infrastructure issues”. In areas where the deck is open to the public, it would seem that some re-decking had taken place.
The BBC programme is accessible below and the Walton segment begins at 16:07.
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November 2024 – Minor Storm Damage at Walton Pier

May 2025 – Walton Pier – A Review

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