Remember the days before the M4 motorway? When the iconic Severn Bridge wasn’t even a dream, the Aust Ferry was the lifeline connecting England and Wales! 🚗⛴️
This trusty ferry service, dating back to Roman times, linked Aust in Bristol to Beachley in Gloucestershire, right up until 1966. It started as a humble pedestrian and cyclist route and evolved to carry 17 vehicles at a time. Before you knew it, you’d be sailing across the Severn instead of being stuck in traffic!
A photo from June 1966 captures the quaint ferry terminal with cars queued beneath the almost-complete Severn Bridge. Who knew that just a day later, the ferry would cease operations with the opening of the grand Severn Bridge, changing travel between the two countries forever. The once bustling ferry area is now an abandoned relic of the past.
Though it’s been shut down for decades, remnants of the old Aust Ferry crossing still remain. You can spot the original slip road, complete with wood panels and a post from the original gate. Nature has reclaimed much of it; wildlife now rules over where cars once lined up.
The River Severn wasn’t the easiest to cross, known for its perilous tides and massive tidal range—the second largest in the world! Reports of engine failures left ferries at the mercy of the current, taking hours to recover. Now, flood defences guard the coast where the ferry once sailed, with tidal gates installed to protect the area from high waters.
Between the M48 and M4 across the River Severn, this once essential crossing has faded into history. Yet, if you’re up for a bit of exploration, the echoes of this ferry service are still there, silently telling stories of commuters from an era past. 🌊🛶