Thanks to a heritage grant, the original clean and elegant styling of this 1869 Victorian pier has been carefully restored: uncluttered decks, a pagoda-style pavilion and multi-level landing stages to cope with a 12m tidal range.

An offshore mist mutes the colours, despite the spring sunshine. The dream-like quality of the zone plate image is sympathetic to this now-quiet survivor of the bustle of the Great Railway Age of late Victorian times where rail travellers, arriving direct from London, could await the steam ferry to south Wales.