E W Huxley & Son
Hampton Ferry
Boat Lane
Evesham
Worcestershire
WR11 4BP

(01386) 45460 / 442458

 

The History of Hampton Ferry from Evesham Abbey to the Present Day

 

In the 13th Century, the Benedictine Monks needed to cross the River Avon from Evesham Abbey to Hampton to tend the hillside vineyard on the land behind what is now Ferry House. The solution to this problem was the Hampton Ferry which has now been in use as a link between the village of Hampton and the town of Evesham for almost 800 years.

Very little is known about the history of the ferry following the closure of the abbey, but the fact that it remains today, and the need for a crossing between Hampton and Evesham for locals would suggest that it has been in continual use since its creation.

In 1929, Ernie and Eileen Huxley moved to Hampton Ferry to operate both a smallholding market garden and the ferry, which was still the only link between the village of Hampton and Evesham. Being a keen angler, Ernie spent as much time as he could fishing the waters and was approached by an increasing number of anglers requesting permission to fish there too. The popularity was such that Ernie held a competition which was, of course, the first of very many contests. Success led to Hampton Ferry growing to become the heart of angling in the Midlands, with many of the big names in angling often visiting to fish there.

Eileen opened a cafe to serve breakfasts to the ever-growing number of anglers. Sausage and bacon sandwiches were a great favourite, and being a resourceful businesswoman who hated waste, Eileen used the loaf crusts to make Bread Pudding which, made to the original family recipe, not only became famous in the area but is still a favourite on the menu to this day! The cafe has evolved organically over the years and is now Raphael's Licensed Restaurant, popular for not only its delightful riverside setting but also for its excellent Sunday roast. Ernie and Eileen's daughter Diana and her husband Sam Raphael, became partners in the business and their youngest son Robert is now continuing the family tradition.

A camping site which was originally started for visiting anglers has been replaced with a holiday caravan site, with seventy privately owned caravans. A traffic-free environment, accessed via the Ferry, the site is a wonderfully tranquil haven with the most wonderful river views.

 
 
An artists impression of what Evesham Abbey may have looked like, there is evidence that the abbey itself had a spire.
 

Evesham Abbey was the second largest and wealthiest abbey in England. Mostly destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries between 1536 and 1541, all that remains of the original buildings today is The Bell Tower, two churches; All Saints' and Saint Lawrance, the Almoner's House (Now the Almonry Heritage Centre), the cloister arch and part of Abbot Chyrytons wall.

 

The Huxley Family Grows
 

Ernie and Eileen Huxley had three children, Deirdre Wellesley and Diana. The family settled in well at Hampton Ferry Ernie grew and sold bedding plants, asparagus and strawberries and Eileen's reputation for great bacon sandwiches and bread pudding drew a queue every weekend.

Hampton Ferry became a tourist destination and camping soon became popular. Ernie introduced punts to the river and continued to organise fishing contests. Ernie's pride and joy was a putting green next to the house where many sunny afternoons were spent.

The War Years
a

Ten years after the Huxley family moved to Hampton Ferry the second World War broke out and not even this idyilic part of England was spared the sacrifcies of war.

'Dig for Victory' was a slogan on everyones lips and Hampton Ferry certainly played its part.

The putting green was dug up and on instruction Flowering Cherry trees, Narcissi and Wallflowers were planted. Beehives, nestled amongst the blossom, provided honey and the wallflowers, an unusual wartime request, were harvested to produce khaki dye for the forces uniforms.

Ernie had been a pigeon fancier for many years and kept a well stocked pigeon loft. During the war Ernie would take his pigeons to Bengeworth train station to be released elsewhere. Often when the pigeons returned they would have a small cannister the size of a thimble attached to one leg. Ernie was instructed to deliver this cannister, untouched, to Evesham police station as soon as possible. It was not until after the war, the Huxley children learnt the birds had been sent behind enemy lines and were carrying important information to assist the war effort.

Hampton House was an old manor house appriximately quarter of a mile from the Ferry. During the war the house and grounds were occupied by the BBC and many programmes were broadcast from there.

Frank Phillips and Thomas Ellen were two BBC staff billletted with the Huxleys at Hampton Ferry. Frank was a BBC newsreader and would always begin his broadcasts with "This is Frank Phillips in London", even though he was really in Evesham

 

BBC Newsreader Frank Phillips
was billetted at Hampton Ferry
for part of the war

Thomas Ellen was a cashier for the BBC and became known to the Huxley children as 'Uncle Gus', after the war Uncle Gus moved in permanently with the Huxley family until his death in 1980.

Two railway bridges crossing the river downstream from the Ferry attracted a few air raids, fortunatley these attempts were unsuccessful and Evesham on the whole survived untouched by combat. In 1964 The Beeching report managed do what the war had failed to do and destroy one of Evesham's railway bridges forever.

     
 

         
   
 
  Learning to Swim    
         
  Ernie Huxley taught me to swim. I was one of dozens, if not hundreds of children who, quite literally, 'took the plunge' the ferry way. The river water was always freezing cold, even in the middle of Summer. With a a thick leather belt secured around my waist I waded into the water. One end of an old piece of ferry rope was tied to the belt and the other end of the rope was tied to a long metal pole. Ernie would hold the pole firmly, keeping my body at the top of the water as I did my best to do breast stroke. Ernie walked slowly from one end of the landing stage to the other, holding me up by rope and pole. Ernie gradually relaxed the tension on the rope, until he was no longer supporting me at all... and I was swimming on my own! Other swimming styles and improving technique came later in life but after just a few plunges in the icy Avon one Summer I was able to swim.  
         

The Mighty Asparagus, Queen of Vegetables
 

Harvesting Ernie's asparagus beds, which were situated where the caravan site is today, was truly a family affair. Rising around 4am every morning during the short asparagus season all of the Huxley children would join Ernie and Eileen in cutting and tying the rounds of 'gras for market before school began.

Eileen would tie the twenty spears of asparagus together to form a bundle and then tie six bundles together using willow cane. Six bundles tied together is known as a 'round of 'gras'.

Ernie always complained at having to buy willow cane and so planted a small row of weeping willows on the opposite bank. The beautiful weeping willows adjacent the river are still there and are an iconic part of Hampton Ferry today. Unfortunately for Ernie by the time the willows were mature enough to harvest the cane, the asparagus beds had been turned into a caravan site and he never used his free supply of asparagus cane.

Hampton Ferry's asparagus heritage continues today, we are proud members of the Evesham Asparagus Community Interest Company, a not-for-profit organisation aimed at promoting the vales famous vegetable and during aspargus season (23 April - 21 June) fresh asparagus is often on the menu at Raphael's as well our famous aspargus themed buffets.

Evesham's asparagus market (Pictured) was situated adjacent to Evesham Railway Station (Now Rightons Court)

 

Reliving Hampton Ferry's Lost Era of Steam

     

We have hundreds of photographs, paintings and drawings of the ferry, yet very few with a train on the old Ashchurch line that went behind the house and (what is now) the caravan park. Take a look at this wonderful collection of old silent cine films. At 6:10 you can see a steam engine passing Hampton Ferry.

 
   
 

From Canvas to Caravans
 

Hampton Ferry soon became a mecca for weekend anglers, those attending one of Ernie's contest on a Saturday often asked if they could stay in Evesham overnight in order to fish the next day, from this demand for overnight accommodation a campsite popped up at the end of the asparagus beds.

During the 'industries fortnight', when the factories of Coventry and Birmingham closed for annual holidays at the end of July, Hampton Ferry would be packed with campers swarming to the riverside to rent a small piece of heaven for one shilling and sixpence (7.5p) a week to pitch a tent.

Many of the same campers would meet up year after year, often bringing with them everything except a kitchen sink. One family used to arrive each year with an upright piano and would happily lead singing and dancing in the evenings. For the benefit of those who had come to the ferry for a more relaxing holiday Ernie introduced the rule 'No noise or musical instruments after 11pm'.

Camping evolved and soon the campers wanted to bring caravans and so Hampton Ferry Caravan Park was formally created and later expanded to fill Ernie's asparagus meadow.

Hampton Ferry Caravan Park 1970s

   
 
Hampton Ferry Caravan Park c1979 the tiny round frame caravans look old fashioned today but were a great improvement on the flimsy canvas tents from earlier decades

         
   
 
  Straw Bedding and Fantastic Country Air    
         
  Hampton Ferry was our holiday destination for several years in the 1940s and 50s. All the family travelled from Birmingham; Mom, Dad, aunties, uncles, cousins and my brothers and sisters and me. We camped and collected straw from Mr Huxley for our bedding. We had fantastic holidays, freedom and country air with all the family together.  
     
Noreen Wright
 
         

The First New Cafe
 

Recreational Fishing changed after the war from being a solitary past-time hobby to a competitive sport with mass appeal. Almost every factory and working mens club had an angling section that would set out to fish at least once a week and Hampton Ferry, one of the oldest commercial fisheries in the country would usually be packed with up to 150 anglers every Saturday and Sunday. The waters would often be booked up to two years in advance.

To cater for this change in the business direction Ernie and Eileen built their first purpose bult café; a wooden 'shed' with corrugated tin roof. The limited menu of bacon or sausage sandwiches now included a full English breakfast and even coffee was added as a bevearge option! Although there was only seating for sixteen people this new building set the scene for the future of Hampton Ferry.

 
Pictured outside the old café: (L to R) Diana Raphael, Eileen Huxley, Ernie Huxley, David Haywood, Daphne Haywood and 'Uncle Gus' with Toby the dog

ATV News Report 1976
 

In February 1976 ATV news reporter Peter Plant interviewed Ernie Huxley when the local bus companies raised the price of their fares from Hampton to Evesham to a wapping 17p resulting in more local people using the ferry.

You can see the interview by following the link below:

         
   
 
  Fond Memories of a long hot Summer    
         
 

My grandparents had a caravan at Hampton Ferry from about 1968 to 1980 ish (not sure of exact date). Their names were Harry and May Phillips and Grandad was known as "H" or "Harry the float" - as he made and sold fishing floats. They had the caravan right at the end of the site by the Green Bungalow and water tap. My Nan used to stay on her own at the caravan all through the summer and very often was the only person on the site during the week. She hated Fridays when all the "brummies turned up" for the weekend.

As children both my sister and I spent many happy weekends and holidays running around the site. I remember very clearly the heatwave of 1976 when we were at the caravan for weeks on end... it was so hot living in that tiny caravan!!

My parents and I still reminisce about all the good times we had there and I regularly look longingly at your website at the caravans you have for sale. Who knows....I may return to the site again one day!

 
     
Dawn Clark
 
         
 
   
         

From tiny Acorns...
 

The building now known as Raphaels Restaurant was completed in October 1978 and was a considerable improvement on the previous 'wooden shed'. The new Hampton Ferry Café, seated sixty in comfort and warmth, making it an all year round multi-functional building, even indoor flush toilets replaced the 'country closets'.

On the first day of opening one angler was heard to say of the electric hand driers installed in the gents toilet “It's great, they have even got welly warmers”

Newer and bigger the premises could be used for so much more and it was not long before a licensed bar was added.

     

A Golden Anniversary celebrated with ferry-boys reunion
 

Ernie and Eileen celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in December 1978 only a few weeks after the new purpose built café was completed.

The new building was tested with a great family party with guests from all over the world, including a reunion of the many past ferryboys, campers and anglers who love Hampton Ferry so much.

 
The Huxleys December 1978 (Standing L to R) Deirdre Turvey (née Huxley), Wellesley Huxley & Diana Raphael (née Huxley) (Seated) Ernest William Huxley and Eileen Spencer Huxley  
The Evesham Journal reports Ernie and Eileens Golden Wedding Anniversary, December 1978
     
   
Old (and not so old) Ferryboys Reunion December 1978

EW Huxley pulling the Hampton Ferry

Earnest William Huxley

On the morning of Sunday 21st January 1979 Ernie Huxley died peacefully in his sleep at home at Hampton Ferry.

A lttle piece of Evesham died that morning, but Ernie's vision for Hampton Ferry and legacy lives on at Hampton Ferry to this day.

   
 

I name this ship...
     
 
   
 
     
The current ferry is the fourth boat since 1929. The first new boat photographed being built above in was retired in 1986 and became a flower bed for many years before finally being 'decommissioned' on bonfire night 1995.   The Evesham Jounral reports the launch of the third ferry boat in 1986. This boat was shorter than her predecessors and was the first boat to be made from iron, all others have been wooden.

Hampton Ferry the movie ?
 
Hampton Ferry has featured on countless postcards and calendars over the years and even seen its fair share of TV cameras. One edition of the magazine show Central Weekend was braodcast live from the Ferry and included the late TV chef Keith Floyd cooking eels in the Raphael's Restaurant kitchen.
Sir Harry Secombe recorded an episode of his Sunday evening television prgramme Highway, interviewing Diana Raphael and singing in the gardens of Hampton Ferry.
Hampton Ferry's Bread Pudding came under the spotlight in the BBC programme Countryfile and sound of the ferry rope rattling between its rollers was recorded for the Radio 4 programme Down Your Way with Brian Johnston.
     

None of this could have prepared us for the arrival of the cast and crew from Central Televisions's 'Eh Brian it's a Whopper!'. This six part drama series centred around a fictional Birmingham based angling club and their exploits on and off the river bank. The Ferry was taken over for two weeks as filming took place.

 
A painting of Hampton Ferry featured on the front cover of A Lad of Evesham Vale, a novel by Fred Archer
     

Only exterior scenes were filmed using the ferry and river bank. The café was recreated in studios in Birmingham where all interior scenes were filmed... with the exception of the gents toilet! (We have no idea why either !) You can watch 'Ladies Day', the episode that was filmed here by using the link below.

 

 

Rosie and Jim
 

 
Children's TV programme Rosie and Jim visited Hampton Ferry on board narrowboat Rag Doll. This episode was first broadcast in 1990
 

The Civic Years
     
It has always been The Huxley-Raphael family belief that they should contribute more to society than they take from it. With this in mind they have been active members of many local groups and societies within Evesham for many years. Diana Raphael has been Mayor of Evesham twice, 1990/91 and 2002/03. Sam Raphael was Mayors Consort in 1990/91 and James Raphael stood in in 2002/03
s

Robert Raphael was Mayor of Evesham in 1998/99 and 2012/13. DIana Raphael was Mayoress on both ocassions. Robert Raphael was also Mayors Consort in 2006/07. Robert Raphael was Chairman of Wychavon District Council from July 2020 until May 2022.

John Raphael has been Evesham Town Crier since 2003 and continues in the role to this day.

           
   
 
           
 
Mayor of Evesham Robert Raphael, with Mayoress Diana Raphael and Chairman of Worcestershire County and Wychavon District Councils
     
Pictued above Diana Raphael presents Princess Margaret with a round of 'gras during her visit to Eveham in 1990  
Pictued above Mayor Robert Raphael, Mayoress Diana Raphael with Rob Adams Chairman of Worcestershire County and Richard Morris Chairman of Wychavon District Council at The Olympic Torch Parade, Evesham 2012

         
   
 
  A Little Piece of Heaven    
         
 

This is not a memory per se, but more of an appreciation of what a wonderful place Hampton Ferry is today.

In my honest opinion, there is nowhere more tranquil and peaceful in Evesham than sitting in the gardens of Hampton Ferry. There is an aura of calmness - listening to the ripples of the Avon, watching the boaters pass by and smelling the freshly ground coffee brewing in the Restaurant.

When I am feeling in need of spiritual uplifting, I head for the ferry, where I am assured of a warm welcome and friendly smile. Even when seasons change, I still like to sit inside the Restaurant with its warm cozy environment and look out of the panoramic window to watch the world go by.

Hampton Ferry is certainly more than a chain pulled ferry across the River Avon, it is a little peace of Heaven, here in beautiful Evesham.

 
         

85 Years and Stronger than ever
 

 
On 29th September 2014 the Huxley-Raphael family will have been at Hampton Ferry for eighty-five years. While much has changed with the business over the years, the tranquility and beauty of Hampton Ferry has very much stayed the same.

Hampton Ferry has firmly established its place on the local and national stage. Hosting shows and events throughout the year and welcoming the world famous Evesham Angling Festival every August.

Hampton Ferry is open throughout the year and looks forward to what the next eighty-five years may bring.

 

 
Pictued Diana and Robert Raphael with an Anniversary cake to celebrate
85 years as a family business at Hampton Ferry at Hampton Ferry Charity Gala Day
 
This page was last updated 27 December 2023