 The ferry continued in use until after the Second World War but gradually use of the ferry decreased and lack of maintenance of landing stages on either side meant traversing mud - one of the duties of the ferryman had become carrying people across the mud.In 1913 Arthur Cooke wrote in The Forest of Dean "At low tide a small portion only of the journey will be made by boat - the remaining area of tenancious mud-flats stretching from the farther shore must needs be travesed in The Ferryman's strong arms'.In the year 2000 Arlingham and Newnham on Severn celebrated the millennium by once again opening the ferry to link the two communities.