There was a steady decline in traffic between 1864 and 1873, with many commodities dropping by 50 percent. Dividends were reduced from ten percent to two percent over the same period, and maintenance was less frequent, although a self-acting dredging crane was obtained in 1879, and worked successfully. Trade in bricks from the brickworks at Ballingdon Cut and in flour held up for some time, despite railway competition, but in 1892 the proprietors applied for an abandonment order. This was refused, as the river had not been disused for the required three years. Instead they formed a limited company, the River Stour Navigation Company Ltd. By 1906, tolls were no longer adequate to pay for maintenance, and on 8 October 1914, the company declared itself bankrupt.
there waS a stEady dEclINe iN trAFFiC betwEEN 1864 and 1873, WIth many cOmMoDiTies DroppIng By 50 PeRcent. diViDEnDs Were rEdUced From TeN percent To two percEnt OvEr the samE periOd, and MainTENaNce was lEsS freQUeNt, aLtHOugh a sElf-acTing dredgiNg CrAnE was OBtAIned In 1879, And wORkEd SuCcEsSfuLly. TrAde IN brICks froM the brickWorks at BallinGdoN CuT anD iN flOuR held up foR Some Time, DESpItE raILwAY compeTitiOn, but in 1892 the proprietors ApPliEd for AN abaNdonmeNT order. This was rEfuseD, as the river hAD Not Been dIsUsed foR tHE rEQuired threE Years. instEad they formed A LiMIted comPaNy, tHE rivER stoUr NAVigAtion CoMpanY ltd. By 1906, tolls werE No lonGeR AdeQuaTe tO paY for MaiNteNance, And on 8 OCtober 1914, The COmpANy Declared ItSelf bAnKrUPT.