Grosvenor Bridge.
This noble work of art, which is unequalled in the history of bridge-building, crosses the Dee at the south-east angle of the Roodeye, and is approached by a new road from the centre of Bridge-street, which passes by the Castle esplanade, proceeds across the City Walls, and then, by an immense embankment, thrown over a deep valley, to the foot of the bridge. The bridge consists of one main stone arch, with a small dry arch or towing path on each side, by which the land communication is preserved on both sides of the river. The cost of erection was £36,000.
The great distinguishing feature of this edifice is the unparalleled width of the chord or span of the main arch, which is of greater extent than that of any other known to have been constructed. Of its dimensions the following is an accurate delineation:—The span of the arch, two hundred feet. [40] Height of the arch from the springing line, 40 feet. Dimensions of the main abutments, 48 feet wide by 40, with a dry arch as a towing path at each side, 20 feet wide, flanked with immense wing walls, to support the embankment. The whole length of the roadway, 340 feet. Width of the bridge from outside the parapet walls, 35 feet 6 inches, divided thus: carriage road, 24 feet; the two causeways, 9 feet; thickness of the parapet walls, 2 feet 6 inches. Altitude from the top of the parapet wall to the river at low-water mark, 66 feet 6 inches. The architectural plan of this bridge was furnished by the late Thomas Harrison, Esq.; contractor and builder, Mr. James Trubshaw, of Staffordshire; surveyor, Mr. Jesse Hartley, of Liverpool. The first stone was laid on the 1st October, 1827, by the late Marquis of Westminster, and a specimen of each of the current coins of the realm deposited therein; and was formally opened in October, 1832, by her Royal Highness the Princess Victoria (her present Most Gracious Majesty), on occasion of her visit, and that of her Royal mother, the Duchess of Kent, to Eaton Hall. As a compliment to her noble host, at the request of the commissioners, the bridge was named “Grosvenor Bridge,” by the young Princess. It was opened to the public in December, 1833.
It was opposite to this part of the Walls that King Edgar’s palace was situated, from which he was rowed up the river to St. John’s Priory, by eight tributary princes, in 971.
Within seventy yards of the bridge formerly stood an ancient Roman gateway in the walls, called the Shipgate, or Hole in the Wall, at one time the only entrance into Chester from Handbridge. It was taken down some years ago, and is now in the possession of Thomas Finchett Maddock, Esq. It forms a perfect specimen of Roman masonry, originally 20 feet in height by 16 in breadth. Pennant remarks, “that this postern seems originally to have been designed for the common passage over the Dee into the country of the Ordovices, either by means of a boat at high water, or by a ford at low, the river here being remarkably shallow.” Opposite the Shipgate is a ford in the river leading through to a field on the Handbridge side, called Edgar’s Field, in which stands the ancient sculpture of the Diva Armigera Pallas, already mentioned under the head of “Roman Antiquities,” in a former part of this work.
Pursuing our walk, we next arrive at