Hampton Loade Ferry

When the chain ferry across the Severn sank at Hampton Loade the ninety residents of the village discovered how important it was to them.

Hundreds of years of history were washed away by floods in December 1964 when the chain ferry on the River Severn at Hampton Loade sank. In the following January Lionel Hampden visited the village that is cut in two by the river. On arriving he discovered that the loss of the ferry meant that villagers had to travel thirteen miles by road to simply call on a 'neighbour'.

The Hampton Loade ferry was restored shortly after this film was made and continues to operate. In car sat-nav systems that incorrectly suggest that the ferry can carry cars are a more recent problem.