Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - The Bristol Channel District Guide - selected articles - [1934 Edition] . . . .

Passing the site of this defunct ferry, we have on our port side the islet of Charstone, with its diminutive Lighthouse, and beyond Red Cliff on the mainland we see the picturesque tower of Mathern Church rising amongst the trees. Right ahead is the mouth of the River Wye, which we should enter if bound for Chepstow, passing a row of green-clad cliffs, called the " Seven Sisters. "

We continue our journey up Severn, however, past St. Tecla's Isle, with its old ruin of St. Tecla's, or St. Tecwyn's Chapel. By some writers this chapel has been thought to mark the spot whence the pilgrims embarked for the Holy Land ; but others think it more likely to be connected with the landing here in the sixth century of Cadvan, Tecwyn, and the thirteen other religious persons who came from Armorica to regenerate Christianity in our island.

Others link it with times when men in their piety " lay by their crowns, " and raised   such buildings to " hold a torch at some perilous passage of a river. "

On the opposite shore we have the peculiar-looking Aust Cliff, the site of the ancient Trajectus, where Roman legions used to be ferried over. Aust is believed to derive its name from Augustus, the Roman Emperor.

And while by some it is thought to have been the spot where St. Augustine and the British Bishops assembled in conference, it is interesting also because of its association with Wycliffe, the reformer, who was presented to its living by Edward III. in 1374.

Aust is a thorough El Dorado for geologists, by whom it is known as the Bristol Bone-bed.

Beachley now lies on our port side. It was a place of importance in the early British and Roman periods, and the scene of active operations during the civil wars of Charles I.