A FERRY which plied a trade across the River Severn at Arley for nearly 650 years will sail once more – in photographs and memories – as part of the annual Discover Bewdley event.

David and Penny Griffiths will be opening up their Dog Lane garden to show the history of the Arley Ferry, on Sunday,May5.

A ferry crossed the Severn at Arley from 1323 until a bridge opened in 1972. The last ferry was moored along the north quay in Bewdley until 1998.

Mr and Mrs Griffiths have been opening their garden to the public since 2008, after Mr Griffiths installed the prow of the ferry in their garden. Mrs Griffiths then pieced together the history, producing an information board to give passing visitors an insight into the ferry.

That led to the exhibition, where local people could add to the collection by writing their own post cards.

The couple have received gifts over the years, including the ferry’s original anchor and the Pound Green sign, which pointed to its operational site.

They were also given rare photographs of the ferry by the daughters of Bert Evans, one of the last ferry men.

Mrs Griffiths said: “It is really satisfying to think that we saved this little bit of history with the prow and now she still ‘sails’ on, bringing smiles and happy memories to so many people.”

The garden will be open between 10am and 4pm at 5 Dog Lane, Bewdley. For more information, call 01299 404912 or email pennygriffiths@ tiscali.co.uk The Discover Bewdley Spring Fair will be held on Sunday, May 5 and Monday, May6.