Old Dee Bridge, Chester

The Old Dee Bridge, spanning the River Dee in Chester, is a remarkable piece of architectural history and the city’s oldest surviving bridge. It connects Lower Bridge Street and Bridgegate on the city side with Handbridge on the other. Designated a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument, its origins date back to the Roman era, though the structure we see today primarily reflects a major reconstruction completed in 1387.

The original Roman bridge likely consisted of stone piers supporting a timber carriageway. By the 10th century, this early crossing had disappeared, and during the reign of Queen Æthelflæd of Mercia (AD 911–918), only a ferry was available. A new bridge had been constructed by 1086, as recorded in the Domesday Book, and it was later reached via a causeway built for Hugh d'Avranches, the 1st Earl of Chester, who also added watermills to the area.

The bridge underwent several repairs over the centuries. After losing its timber superstructure in 1279–80, it was rebuilt with major contributions by Sir Thomas de Ferrers and Stephen de Merton in the 14th century. Edward, the Black Prince, ordered further reconstruction in 1357, and by the late 14th century, the bridge was largely complete. Its maintenance was funded through murage and pontage tolls, highlighting its importance to the city.

The red sandstone Old Dee Bridge features seven arches, with the northern ones spanning an old mill leat and the southern replacing a medieval drawbridge. A defensive tower added in 1399–1407 was demolished in 1781. Architect Thomas Harrison widened the bridge with a footway in 1825–26, but rising traffic led to the construction of the nearby Grosvenor Bridge, which opened in 1834.

The Old Dee Bridge remains a testament to Chester’s rich historical layers, blending Roman ingenuity, medieval fortifications, and Georgian practicality in its enduring sandstone arches.