What's On at the River Dee in Chester

Mar 16 2010 By Chester Chronicle

History of the River Dee

THE River Dee was first used by the area’s Celtic people for fishing and as transport to the sea and the Welsh coast, where many important tribes lived.

The Romans arrived circa 70 AD and began developing the Roman city of Deva.

The signs of the Romans can still be seen in both The Walls and the shrine of Minerva at Edgar’s field.

The Romans also built the first bridge across the Dee, where the Old Dee Bridge leads from Lower Bridge Street to Handbridge. This bridge was burnt down many times by rampaging Welshmen who eventually named Handbridge Treboeth – or ‘burnt town’ – as they only ever saw it in smoking ruins.

The Romans used a lot of sandstone quarried from the area opposite the city and many old workings can still be seen. if you look carefully.

Eventually the Romans left and the Dark Ages began. King Edgar, the first King of England, took the oaths of eight vassal kings and princes in his palace, built in the area known as Edgar’s field.

As the Dark Ages drew to a close, Chester was becoming an important salmon fishery, even though the river was starting to silt up from the estuary.

Around this time the weir was built to allow a head of water upstream of the river to allow for river traffic, and a special salmon leap or step was built on the Handbridge side to allow these important fish to pass unhindered.

It is believed that the unusual slant of the weir across the flow of the river was so that it could be used as a crossing, if anything happened to the bridge – the slant allowing less height of flow as the pressure of the water dissipated over a larger area.

The weir is also unique in having a later modification in a gate fitted to allow barges to pass up and down during high tides, once or twice a year.

The Medieval Age arrived and the castle and more permanent bridge was built including a barbican gate on the Handbridge side, to prevent the Welsh from burning it.

During these times the old monastery, the ruins of which can be seen in and around Grosvenor Park and its attached church, was at its height and for a while became a cathedral for the length of one bishop’s rule.

As the Medieval Age passed the city and river became a major milling area, first for grain and later tobacco.

The millers at Dee became known for being particularly thrifty and the phrase ‘miller at Dee’ became a way to describe anyone seen as tight and miserly.

In the Victorian era the city declined as an industrial centre but became more of a holiday resort for resting Victorians who wanted to get away from the busy new centres of commerce for the British Empire, which was now at its height. The Groves became a major spot for relaxing with a snack from one of the Victorian stands that still remain, while listening to the bands playing on the bandstand.

It was, and still is possible to relieve yourself of any excess cups of tea in the listed Victorian toilets regarded as some of the finest around.

Queen’s Park suspension bridge was erected to complete the look of The Groves, connecting the people of the city with the Meadows, which is still a popular area for watching the many canoe and sailing clubs and the amazing natural surroundings flora and fauna.

A hydro-electric plant, one of the first of its kind, was installed to provide a use for the huge head of water still stored upstream of the weir, allowing Chester to be lit by the bright light of electricity.

In the Swinging 60s John Lennon of Beatles fame often stayed in the river front, area of the City where it is rumoured he heard of the area now known as nowhere, and was inspired to write the song Nowhere Man.

Today the river front is used by many people for things such as boating and listening to bands on the bandstand.

so enjoyed by the Victorians. It is still developing, with the university taking up residence and bringing even more vibrancy to the area.