Riverside Promenade Trail

About Chester's Riverside Promenade

New sections of a purpose-built Promenade are now open along the Little Roodee, Roodee and New Crane Wharf. These have been constructed with support from a variety of funders including the Water in Historic City Centres ( WIHCC ) project, which is part of European Union's Interregional IIIB Programme for north-west Europe (http://www.wihcc.eu/ (external link)).

This leaflet identifies a trail route between The Groves and Cop Park (approx. 2 miles) that includes the new sections of Promenade. An additional section will be opened in 2007 further improving the route between the Roodee and Old Port. This guide has been produced by Chester City Council and funded by the WIHCC project. It will help you plan a visit and enjoy some of the rich heritage of Chester's riverside.

The River and the Romans

The Romans founded their legionary fortress at Chester around AD70. An important reason for selecting the site was the geography of the River Dee. Indeed, the Romans called the fortress Deva, the goddess, after the Celtic name of the river. From this comes the modern name Dee.

At that time the river became an open estuary at the Roodee. Here the Romans built harbour facilities and used the river and estuary as transport routes.

Also, the river formed a winding bend around a prominent sandstone ridge. This provided an ideal defensive position to build a fortress from which to control the near-by native British tribes. Lying at the head of the estuary Deva was at the lowest crossing point over the river.

When walking along the Riverside Promenade between the Little Roodee and Cop Park think that during Roman times this would have been a very different place. As part of the estuary there would have been open water with shifting sandbanks, and possibly mudflats and areas of salt marsh closer to the shore.

Exploring the Riverside Promenade

Sections of the new Promenade open up the Little Roodee and Roodee so that walkers and cyclists can explore Chester's Riverside between The Groves, the Old Port and Cop Park. Whether you are using the whole route (approx. 2 miles) or just a small section, a visit will allow you to get close to both history and nature. The trail offers a variety of experiences including the tranquillity of the riverside setting and plentiful picturesque views.

You can join and leave the trail at various points and follow it in either direction. It is only a short distance from the main shopping streets. From the trail pedestrians can access Chester's famous City Walls and other sites such as Grosvenor Park, Roman Gardens, Roman Amphitheatre, Castle and the historic Canal Basin. There are also links with the southern bank of the River Dee.

The trail joins other routes such as the recently installed Dee Coastal Path from Cop Park to Shotton and the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal. These also form part of the national and regional cycle route network.

When visiting the Riverside please:

• Be safe, plan ahead and follow any signs
• Leave gates and property as you find them
• Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
• Keep dogs under close control
• Consider other people

Please take particular care when near to the water's edge and when alongside, or crossing, roads.

Wheelchair Access Statement

The Riverside Promenade Trail route is generally suitable for wheelchair users, especially the recent purpose-built sections. There are wheelchair accessible parking bays immediately adjacent to the Promenade in the Little Roodee Car Park.

The River and the Port of Chester

The Early Port

The River Dee, especially its estuary, had made Chester a flourishing port since Roman times. It was important for trade and, on occasion, as a base for military campaigns.

During the Saxon period the area that is now The Groves may have been the main harbour. From Norman times an important anchorage developed to the south of the Castle. This was the location of a medieval gate in the walls known as the Shipgate.

What is probably a later version of this gate was removed in 1828 and has since been re-erected in Grosvenor Park. Quays were also established to the northwest of the city beyond the Watergate protected by the early 14th century Water Tower.

Silt and Sand

However, the city faced an ongoing problem of silt and shifting sandbanks in the estuary. This made navigation difficult especially as the size of ships increased. Early responses were to establish other ports downstream under the city's jurisdiction - such as at Burton.

Various schemes were put forward to improve navigation. These included several proposals to remove the weir to increase the flow of water downstream. Finally in 1733, an Act of Parliament permittedNathaniel Kinderley to dig a channel across the Saltney Marshes. This resulted in the straight sections of the river from Cop Park to Flint (New Cut) that can still be seen today. It also resulted in the large area of reclaimed land known as Sealand.

The Later Port

Following Kinderley's works the area now known as the 'Old Port' developed. This included New Crane Wharf and the former Cheese Wharf.

There was also a connection with the Chester Canal built between the Dee and Nantwich in the 1770s. This canal was extended in the 1790s by the Ellesmere Canal which linked it to the River Mersey at what became known as Ellesmere Port. Additional works inland beyond Nantwich opened up waterway connections with the Midlands and Welsh Borders.

Despite the New Cut, Chester as a port could not compete with others, such as Liverpool, which could easily cope with increasingly larger vessels. Also, Ellesmere Port on the Mersey proved a more favourable location for the transhipment of goods on the canal (since 1846 the Shropshire Union Canal) than the connection with the Dee at Chester. Chester's role as a port therefore declined so that today, without exploration, its former maritime significance is no longer obvious.

Water, Power and Fish

A Supply of Water

The river has been a source of water for both local industry and human consumption. In the early 1600s a 'water engine' next to the (Old) Dee Bridge supplied water into the city via a cistern in a high square tower (Tyrer's Tower) built on the medieval Bridgegate. This was destroyed by Parliamentary forces during the siege of Chester (1645-46) in the Civil War. It was replaced by an octagonal tower which was demolished to make way for the present Bridgegate (built in 1782). Today water is still extracted from the river at this point at the former hydro-electric  station.

Chester's Powerhouse

The construction of the weir by the Normans in 1092 created a head of water that made the area around the Dee Bridge Chester's powerhouse for centuries.

Dee Mills developed just west of the bridge to grind corn into flour. In medieval times they generated income for the Earl, and later the King, through a levy called a multure. At this time the citizens of Chester had to have their grain ground at the mills.

The mills were damaged, and sometimes destroyed, by fire several times over the centuries. The most recent mills were damaged by fire in 1895. Finally demolished in 1910, they were replaced by the hydro-electric power station.

Water-powered mills also developed at the Handbridge end of the weir. The last mills on this site formed a tobacco factory which closed in 1954. This was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the residential properties of Salmon Leap.

The Dee Fishery

Until the early 19th century the river abounded with fish. The area below the weir had become particularly important as a fishery. First known as the Earl's Pool, then the King's Pool, fish such as salmon would gather awaiting a tide to be able to cross the weir. The local fishing community therefore became established in near-by Greenway Street on the Handbridge bank of the river.

During the 20th century fishing declined. This was partly due to problems with fish stocks but also through competition from other fisheries as a result of improved methods of preserving fish.

A major fish pass (Salmon Steps) was constructed in the early 20th century. This was part of the measures to conserve fish stocks. Its design allows migrating fish to reach their spawning  grounds in the headwaters of the Dee. The pass takes the form of a series of four large steps towards the Handbridge side of the river.