A waste of Time

Day 28

18th June 2009

Take a look at that view: As I've mentioned before, landscape isn't really my strong point, so if you were standing where I was, you would be able to see a beautiful blue sky, a shimmering peacock sea, Old Harry Rocks, and in the far distance, Bournemouth.

If you were standing where I was when I took this photo, you would be able to hear the seagulls squawking as they zoomed past you; the sound of the water's edge lapping gently against the rocks; smell the salty seaweed aroma combined with vinegar and chips, and feel a gentle breeze whispering around you. To the right of you, you would be able to see the pier, inviting you to take a walk there and read all the named dedication plaques people have paid for to help restore it.

You might think of finding a lovely little cafe where you could sit and continue to admire the view, take everything in, and enjoy yourself for a while.

Instead, if you were to turn 180 degrees and cross the road, you would see these images. The Pierhead Cafe closed in the 1990's amid controversy surrounding the future of the building. It has since been left as it is. The controversy continues, as the district council have refused planning applications, and although there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel, it will still be sometime later on in the year before anyone knows the fate of this application. There is a kiosk with a patio area to the right of this building, but it's only a fraction of what could be better utilized, given the love and attention it deserves.

These stunning murals were painted by Nina Camplin and Antonia Phillips, as part of Purbeck Art Week 2007. You can go to their Shocked Custard website to read more about the history of these buildings, and view more of their murals and other projects.

I love to look at these murals, as they really do portray the sense of past, present and future. I feel a mixture of emotions when I look at them, ranging from nostalgia, and sadness; to hope. It's such a shame that the building is lying empty, unused, and unloved. The building has so much potential, and as Time goes by the amount of work which will be needed to restore the buildings will increase, making them less attractive for the future. I hope that the buildings don't fall victim to the dreaded demolition.


I particularly like these steps. They need some love and attention, but I can imagine how they would have led the feet of American and Canadian troops into the cafe, and wonder how many tired little footsteps other than my own walked on them; how often these steps were swept and cleaned over the years. I wonder how many dogs have weed on them on their way to and from the Downs. Maybe I think too hard!



Swanage is such a beautiful town. It has so much to offer the locals and tourists alike, and yet here, at the pier end of the town, lies a confused mess of promise, combined with apathetic vision and a disregard for potential. This kind of apathy and narrow-mindedness is a repetitive feature of Swanage. In these difficult times, saving the town by maintaining it and increasing it's potential (not to ruin the town, but to keep it alive) is the only way forward, or else there is the risk of destroying the very thing the council want to protect. Let's not waste Time.
Thanks to Nina camplin and Antonia Phillips for allowing me to use their mural images here.