Aust Ferry
Aust Ferry | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
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From: | Aust | ||
To: | Beachley | ||
Distance: | 2.2 km (1.4 miles) | ||
County | |||
Gloucestershire | |||
The Aust Ferry was a vehicle ferry crossing the Severn between Aust and Beachley in Gloucestershire. The final crossing was on 7 September 1966, the day before the Severn Bridge opened, though the ferries themselves were used the next day to assist the BBC filming the opening ceremony. In the same way that the Severn Bridge does not enter Wales, neither did the Aust ferry, drivers wishing to enter Wales had to drive for a further 2 miles to Chepstow on the Welsh border.
History
The modern ferry crossing started in 1926, though only carrying passengers and motorbikes until 1934, when the Severn Queen car ferry entered service.
Present
The stone slipway on the Beachley side still exists in a usable form alongside the Old Ferry Inn, while on the Aust side the wooden slipway has fallen into disrepair. One of the last ferries, the Severn Princess is abandoned on the shore near to the Beachley slipway.
Map
Links
- BBC: Before the Bridge (with video)
- Memories of Aust Ferry service
- Francis Frith - Aust, the Ferry 1937
Aust Ferry | ||||||
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