The Last Resting Place of .....

..... The Arley Ferry.  Arley is a small settlement not far upstream (on the River Severn) from my hometown of Bewdley. The ferry itself has a long history, having plied its 'trade' back and forth across the river for a couple of centuries, even in its heyday taking hundreds of weekend tourists across the river.  

In 1964 a decision was made to build a footbridge across the river at a cost of £43, 500, this being finally built and operational in 1972. From that time the ferry fell into disuse, and it was moored in Bewdley as a landing stage for rowing boats. However, in 1996 the river flooded and destroyed the ferry boat. The photo shows the prow of that particular ex-ferryboat, all that now remains of it. This is situated in the front garden of a private cottage which is just about 50 metres in from the river. There is a notice alongside it which gives some of its history and declares it to be "The Last Resting Place of the Arley Ferry".