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Wilford Ferry
The River Trent blocks Wilford's direct access to the main
commercial and industrial locations of Nottingham. The Wilford
and Clifton communities have always required a more convenient route into
Nottingham than the Trent Bridge that crosses the river futher to the North
East. The problem was solved in the 14th century when Edward III
approved a ferry to cross the Trent at Wilford. The fares contributed
to the old Trent Bridge maintenance costs. |
| The Ferry Inn
The ferryman not only ran the ferry but also kept the
Wilford Ferry Inn. The Inn is a converted farmhouse that became a
tea and coffee house. It was one of the most popular Nottingham locations
for folk to relax attracting regular visitors from all over Nottingham.
The Inn was originally called the Punch Bowl but was renamed the Ferry
Inn in 1860. It became particularly popular in the 19th century
and probably cashed in on the hundreds of people visiting Clifton
Grove. The Inn was well known for its fine cherries and an annual cherry
eating party always took place in the first week of July with excursions
to Clifton Grove. |
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The Ferry Inn On An Old
Wilford Postcard
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 In
Wilford, as with most villages prior to the 20th century, families
passed on their occupations to their children. It is therefore not
surprising that the Carver family ran the ferry from 1777 for almost a
century. A descendant of the Carvers still lived in Wilford
as late as 1958. The building has a number of strong beams from a
broken up British warship. In 1982 the Inn was exorcised to rid it
of poltergiests alleged to be the source of strange disturbances.
The following description of the Inn from the 19th century gives an innteresting
insight into its popularity and clientel. It appeared in the Nottingham
Journal in 1933. 'What a place of suburban enjoyment! The
thick foliage of elms, oak trees and hazels completely embower the place,
offering a grateful coolness to the languid rambler. The young
ladies are eating shrimps and the young gentleman are smoking very bad
cigars with all the nonchalance they are capable of assuming. Almost
the entire length of the grounds is occupied by a series of impromptu tables
... at which are seated a medley multitude of people from the town.
As you enter (the Inn ) you perceive three diminutive cribs ... wherein
are seated several loving couples having before them jugs and glasses.
At one table a group of mechanics are smoking their yards of clay and discussing
the politics of the week over foaming jugs of ale. A party
of soldiers wearing the inelegant costume ''of the line'' are making the
place echo with their boisterous revelry. Here and there may been
seen fat old tradesman taking the bottled stout. The paths are crowded
with promenaders.'
Kieth Rivington has fond memories of the Ferry Inn from
his Wilford childhood in the forties. 'I spent lots of time in
the backyard playing with a huge parrot in a cage that the local's had
taught to swear like an old soldier. The landlord at that time was
Albert Iremonger who was a famous goalkeeper for England.' |
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Click
Here To View An 18th Century
Painting
Of The Ferry
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A Dangerous Crossing
On the 30th of July in 1784 the regular ferry boat was
under repair. Eleven people cast off in a stand-in boat, eager to
get to the Nottingham market. A sudden gale overturned the little
craft the passengers were thrown into the Trent's fast flowing waters.
A few managed to grab hold of the ferry chain than spanned the river
but in the confusion a man on the shore made the mistake of letting down
the chain. The passengers were washed down stream. Only five
of the passengers survived. In July, 1819 a fifteen
strong group of high spirited evening revelers left the Inn and boarded
the Ferry. Half way across, the ferry was suddenly jolted by a jam
in the ferry chain. One of the party was sent toppling into the river
where he drowned. |
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To View The Ferry Inn & Toll Bridge
Picture Of Your Choice, Click On The Thumbnail Image
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Wilford Toll Bridge
Wilford attracted many poets and artists before the growth
of Nottingham began to whittle away at the picturesque village and its
woodlands. One such poet was Henry Sutton who wrote a poem about
the Wilford ferry :-
Be its solid timbers long
serviceably hale and strong;
And the fates its final date
To old age procrastinate
from upstart usurping bridges!
On the chain the pillar gates.
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The Original Toll Bridge
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Twenty-two years after Sutton wrote those
lines, an 'upstart' toll bridge opened in Wilford ending 400 hundred years
of ferry crossings at Wilford. The ferry made its last voyage across
the Trent on the18th of September, 1864 although the Wilford Toll Bridge
was not opened until the 16th of June, 1870. During the period in
between, a temporary wooden bridge for foot traffic was erected. Wilford
Toll Bridge took much longer to build than expected as first work began
in 1863! It was built by the popular last Baronet of Clifton, Sir
Robert Clifton. The bridge was built to support the traffic for Clifton's
Colliery ( also opened in 1870 ) on the opposite banks of the Trent.
It was also expected to relieve the wear and tear on the crumbling |
| Trent Bridge and offer a far safer passage
over the river than the ferry. Unfortunately for the Clifton
Family , the brand new Trent Bridge opened in 1871 robbing them of
a lot of potential revenue. The bridge remained in the ownership
of the Clifton family until the Council took it over in 1969. Throughout
the 99 years it belonged to the Clifton's, all traffic and pedestrians
were charged a toll. Locals used to refer
to it as the 'Halfpenny Bridge'. The bridge was closed
to traffic in 1974. The center span of the bridge was in a poor state and
so had to be demolished. The center spans were replaced by a smaller foot
bridge. Today in retrospect it seems a shame the bridge wasn't
upgraded to take some of the traffic that now builds up every day on the
very busy Trent Bridge. On the other hand, todays traffic levels
would have ended Wilford's peaceful village atmosphere. The Clifton
influence on the bridge is represented on the North bank of the bridge
by a tall, dominating statue of Sir Robert Clifton. The pillars of
the original sections of the bridge still bare colourful metal plaques
bearing the Clifton coat of arms; a stark contast to the ugly modern grafitti
sprayed on to the surrounding brick work. |
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The Clifton Crest On
Wilford Toll Bridge (February, 1998)
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Click
Here To Read More About The Clifton's
Toll Charges
Above the old toll house ( now used as a news agents
) on the North side of the bridge is a sign with a list of the old toll
charges. It reads :- 'Table of tolls to be taken under the Wilford
Bridge Act 1862. For every horse or other beast drawing any Coach
or Stage Coach, Omnibus, Van, Caravan, Sociable, Berlin, Landau, Chaial,
A-Vis, Barouche, Phaeton, Chaise Marine, Caleche, Carricle, Chair, Gig,
Dog cart, Irish Car, whisky, Hearse, Litter, Chais or any little carriage
6D. For every horse or other beast drawing any wagon, wain, cart
or other carriage. 4D. For every horse or mule, laden or unladen not drawing
1 1/2 D. For every Ox, Cow, Bull or Neat cattle 1 penny; or for a
score 6D.'
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