News from the River Severn

Saturday 19th April 2003

FERRY BERTHING ABORTED

Launched at Yorkshire Drydocks Co in Yorkshire 1959, the ferry SEVERN PRINCESS was soon on active service operating the ancient ferry route between Aust and Beachley. Sadly the day that the new Severn Suspension Bridge was opened in 1966 by HM Queen Elizabeth II the ferries became redundant.

The SEVERN PRINCESS was sold to a company in Galway, Ireland where she provided useful service to a fishery firm.

The launch of the SEVERN PRINCESS

A model of the SEVERN PRINCESS

Berthing aborted of the SEVERN PRINCESS

Enthusiasts in 1999 learned that the SEVERN PRINCESS lay abandoned on a beach in Galway, so bravely had her towed back to the River Wye at Chepstow. After much hard work in restoring her they learned that a more permanent berth must be found for this old ferry before the end of June.

The landlord of The Old Ferry Inn at Beachley kindly offered a permanent berth a few yards upstream of the original landing slipway which she had last used in 1966. Under her own power the SEVERN PRINCESS left the River Wye on the morning tide heading up the Severn Estuary to her new berth. Unfortunately a very strong North Easterly wind was blowing and as she neared the berth her skipper very wisely aborted the berthing.

The ferry was turned around and motored back down the estuary and into the mouth of the Wye, back to her berth at Chepstow.

The SEVERN PRINCESS safely berthed at her new moorings at Beachley, near to the Old Ferry Inn at 8pm on the evening tide of 30th April.
STOP PRESSThe SEVERN PRINCESS sadly has now been moved back to the River Wye at Chepstow. It may be too late to save her and the only option left is the cut the vessel up where she lays. (26-11-07)

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