Before the building of the first Gunthorpe Bridge in 1875, it was an important crossing point over the River Trent at the Hazelford Ferry (). This was the main route to Lincoln and the coast at Grimsby avoiding expensive bridges at Newark and Nottingham. The ferry continued operating until well after the second world war as a recreational facility as it was adjacent to The Star & Garter public house. The public house has now been converted to a residential home for the elderly and the ferry has ceased operation (although the winding gear has been preserved on the North bank).