Beachley, The Ferry And Hotel c.1955

Photo ref: B38004

This was where my grandfather lived until the first road bridge was built. He died while serving out notice. I had holidays there until it was demolished. I cannot find any information about the ownership of this property, whether it was army owned or privately owned. He previously lived in the Drill Hall, Chepstow. The house may have been associated with the army apprentices school at Beachley.

My aunt, Ida Fletcher, was in the WRAF in 1941. She was on leave visitng my grandmother who had a dress shop at 28 High St in Chepstow called "Cristofar" (it is now a wedding dress shop). They were having a picnic at Beachley when a woman and her son got into difficulties while paddling. My grandmother called on Ida "you can swim" and, because she was in uniform, she went into the water and pulled out the ...see more

The person on the right, on the pier, is myself, Ron Stokes. As I wrote in my memory previous, I worked on Beachley and Aust Piers, weekends, school holidays, until I joined the merchant navy in 1958. If you wish to know the history of Pier House [behind ferry office] and lighthouse keepers, and lighthouse of Beachley see www.gloucesterharbou trustees.org, very interesting, history of Batchford family, my mother's ...see more