(j) The ferry

'j'  The Ferry By the river can be seen steps leading down to the water. At low tide, steps can also be seen leading up the bank on the other side. This is all that remains of the Halling Ferry, once the only means of crossing the river between the ancient bridges of Rochester and Aylesford. A ferryman would row passengers over the 90 yard crossing for a small fee, a service that had probably operated since the advent of the Bishops Palace. The ferry finally ceased operation in 1964. The ferrymen once lived in a cottage by the steps, but the cottage and the old chandlery were demolished when Halling riverside was redeveloped in the early 2000s. A 'bailey' bridge was constructed temporarily during the second World War, with tanks regularly crossing between a depot in Wouldham and Halling. In 2016 a £19m bridge opened as part of the Peters Village development on the east bank, cutting down what would have been a 25 minute car journey between the banks via Aylesford or Rochester.