Aust

Aust is a small village in South Gloucestershire, England, the historical site of the eastern terminal of the Aust Ferry crossing route over the River Severn between England and Wales, believed to have been used in Roman times as a continuation of Icknield Street which led from Eastern England via Cirencester to Chepstow, Caerleon & to St David's. It is today near the eastern end of the Severn Bridge, built in 1966 to carry the M4 motorway (now the M48 motorway) over the river estuary to Wales. The village has been divided by both the motorway and dual carriageways which now dominate the local landscape. It has a chapel, a church and a public house. Formerly there was a pond near the chapel, since removed to make way for the motorway. There is a large area of farmland on the river bank, which is often flooded due to the high tides of the River. A tunnel runs under the River Severn from Aust to Beachley carrying electric cables. Aust lies at grid reference ST573891.