Riverside Promenade Trail 1 The New Cut Cop Park 2 Dee Lock 3 4 New Crane Wharf Water (New) Tower 5 This straight section of the River Dee The park is named after the bank, or cop, Constructed in 1801, the lock marks the The wharf developed during the second This massive round tower was built in results from engineering works that is still clearly visible. This was raised river entrance to the present Shropshire half of the 18th century. It was connected 1322 as the New Tower to help protect the undertaken in the 1730s to improve in the early 18th century to protect low- Union Canal. Originally, it provided access to the city by a new road from the city from any ship-borne attack using the navigation between Chester and the open lying areas from flooding. A warehouse to a wide basin. However, the basin was Watergate (New Crane Street) and could harbour. It then stood in the waters of the sea. A channel was cut through marshes used for exporting Cheshire Cheese once filled in around 1950, burying many take sea-going vessels of up to 350 tons. river. It is connected to the main city walls in an attempt to stood here, next to submerged boats. Here the new by a spur wall solve the problem the bend in the The area has walkway has been through which of silt and shifting river. In the late recently been built directly above there is a former sandbanks in the 18th century some redeveloped and the former quay. A water gate. These estuary. It also led 7,000 tons of part of it is now listed riverside structures have to the creation of cheese was known as Earl's warehouse long since been Sealand, as land exported via Port after the name remains, currently left high and dry as reclaimed from the Chester to London of one of these a training base for the course of the sea. each year. boats -Earl . sea cadets. river changed. Thomas Harrison is 70 the Georgian 71 architect sealand road Canal associated with Cop Park canal st many key features 89 Tower N Wharf Shropshire Union along Chester's Northgate riverside. These 2 include the neo- water tower st classical buildings Earl's 70 71 that replace much of the medieval castle, Port the widening of the Old Dee Bridge and Flintshire the elegant Grosvenor Bridge. Born in 1 3 1744 in Richmond, Yorkshire, he is Cathedral 5 particularly noted for work in Chester and Lancaster. He died in 1829 and was buried in St Bridget's churchyard, Chester. 4 This was cleared in 1964 and his remains Water Tower re-buried in Blacon Cemetery. Gardens i 0.25 miles Old st martin's way Port Thomas Harrison 250 metres Eastgate Locations and distances are indicative and not precise. The Cross watergate st Key bridge st Grosvenor i i Park river Watergate Roman Amphitheatre St John's Relocated Shipgate n Chester Church promenade trail i c souters lane h railway o l a dee coastal path s s t Roman WC Gardens canal towpath lowerbridgest 15 the grovesGroves Bandstand city walls grosvenor st 14 Grosvenor The Meadows Museum river footbridges Recorder's Steps Possible Queen's Roman Quay Park footpaths The Roodee 8 13 roads 6 7 Base of the Original site Bridgegate Rood (Cross) of the Shipgate 8 i tourist information King Edgar e 11 v ri d In 973 the English King Edgar brought his WC public toilets e tl fleet to Chester, shortly after his near riverside 10 as 12 c coronation in Bath. It is thought that he WC Model of the was rowed up the Dee by eight British P little roodee Grosvenor Bridge Handbridge princes to attend a service in St John's car & coach park P Church. This act symbolised their grosvenor road Edgar's recognition of Edgar as their overlord. A Little Roodee 70 cycle network route Field riverside park in R Handbridge - now i willow woodland ve greenway st known as Edgar's r D 9 Field - is said by ee some to be the 8 selected features location of Edgar's Palace and the place from which walls access points Overleigh Cemetery he was rowed. 6 Railway Bridge The Roodee 7 City Walls 8 9 Grosvenor Bridge Chester Castle 10 The viaduct and bridge were built in the The name is derived from Rood Eye or Those seen from riverside follow the Designed by Thomas Harrison, who died Founded by William the Conqueror, it was mid 1840s to carry the railway across the Eg, meaning the island or meadow of the medieval line of defences. They extended before it was completed. When opened in the stronghold of the Earls of Chester Roodee and Dee. In 1847 the bridge was cross. A medieval cross stood to mark the the enclosed area of the city to the west 1832 by Princess (later Queen) Victoria, during the Middle Ages. Originally it was the site of an accident in which five boundary between two parishes and its and south, beyond that of the Roman this bridge had the widest single stone built in timber and then rebuilt in stone. people died. Robert Stephenson (of the sandstone base can still been seen. The fortress to encompass the Norman castle. span (200ft, approx. 61m) in the world. However, the site has since been greatly Rocket fame) had Roodee has been The fortress was Famous engineers modified. Between used cast iron used, almost on higher ground including Telford 1788 and 1822 girders. One broke continually, for and its western and Brunel were much of the as an engine ran horse racing since and southern walls consulted on its medieval structure over the bridge 1540 (after football have long feasibility and cost. was replaced by causing the tender was banned). It is, disappeared. The Harrison's stone neo-classical and carriages to therefore, the walls that flank the model of the bridge buildings designed fall into the river oldest racecourse Roodee run along can be seen nearby by Thomas below. in the country. the river cliff. on Castle Drive. Harrison. Opened in 1913, Thought to date This structure The Groves were Completed in 1923, its turbines used from 1387 when it originates from created as a tree- this metal structure the head of water was the lowest shortly after the lined riverside walk replaced an earlier created by the weir bridging point on Norman Conquest in the early 1700s. suspension bridge to generate the River Dee. (1092). For Together with the (built in 1852) which electricity. It is There have been centuries its head refurbished City had become claimed to be the bridges on, or near of water powered Walls they became unsafe. The reason first such power to this site, since mills and, in the fashionable places for a bridge at this station to serve an Roman times. 20th century, a to promenade. The point was to provide English city. It occupies the site of the Alterations over the centuries include the hydro-electric station. A series of broad two features were connected by a short pedestrian route between the new former Dee Mills. When opened it removal of a gatehouse on the steps have been built to help migrating Recorder's Steps. The Groves residential suburb of Queen's Park and supplied 40% of the city's electricity but Handbridge end in 1781 and the widening salmon pass this otherwise formidable subsequently grew into a popular Chester city centre. Visitors to The Groves with rising demand only 2% by 1946. In of the upstream side by 7ft (approx. 2m) in barrier. Heron and cormorants can be riverside resort with activities including can cross this bridge to reach Handbridge 1951 it became a water pumping station. 1826 to provide the present footpath. seen here waiting for fish to pass. pleasure boat trips and band concerts. or the Meadows. 11 Hydro-electric Station Old Dee Bridge 12 13 The Weir 14 The Groves Suspension Bridge 15 OS mapping base Local Information c Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number 100023277 About connectingCycle Routes visit: www.cheshire.gov.uk/countryside/cycling, and the National Cycle Network visit: www.sustrans.org.uk About localBuses and Trains contact Cheshire Traveline on: 01244 602666 or visit: www.cheshire.gov.uk/transport; and aboutCar Parks and Park & Ride in Chester visit: www.chester.gov.uk Designed and produced by Chester City Council 2007 Printedby Synergy (Prenton, Wirral) on totally Chester Tourist Information Centre: 01244 402111. For a Walls Heritage Trail visit: www.chester.gov.uk/wallstrail chlorine free paper made from 50% recycled fibres.