The Port of Chester & the River Dee basin and lock

200 years ago, the historic City of Chester boasted a flourishing port with shipping navigating the River Dee, en-route from and to The Irish Sea. Today there is very little evidence to show that it ever existed. Join me as I explore just wait remains of it and the short but vital stretch of canal linking it to The nearby Shropshire Union Canal.

[@mikeg3293]

What a fabulous interesting Video of a place I’ve past so many times. I enjoyed it that much I was late for an appointment! Thank you for all your efforts, very much appreciated.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you for watching. So glad ypu enjoyed it. Hope you didn't get into trouble re your late appointment.

[@gerryclarke9795]

Lovely video enjoyed the views and the history. Regards from Ireland!

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you Gerry. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@richardtaylor8312]

Its interesting to note that Thomas Telford was commissioned by Businessmen and Farmers in Ellesmere Shropshire, to build a canal from Ellesmere to the nearest point of the sea. He did that and reached the Mersey basin, one of the busiest ports in the world at that time, he called what is now referred to as “The Boat Museum” Ellesmere’s Port-the Port of Ellesmere in Shropshire.

[@nickcaunt1769]

Thanks.Great research and presentation.

[@mikehallows6992]

Thanks for this, I was a member of Chester Sea Cadets (HMS Deva) in the mid 70's Amazing what has changed and what has not. It's a pity you couldn't get inside that old Cadet building you would have found it amazingly interesting. Thanks again for this.

[@tangobob0]

On you question of use of The Dee Link. I blieve that Bithels used it until the 70s. They got the boats across the wier on a high spring tide brought them up the Dee Link and over wintered them at the top basin.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you. Definitely plausible as the high spring tides make that feasible even today. I hear there are rumours that the Dee lock is to be restored for use once more.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

I grew up around the Chester area, but have not been back for over 20 years, it is nice to see some of the more detailed points.

[@seanconnolly7386]

I remember the bridge next to the "sluce house " Sealand Road. even up to the 80s both sides were the same it was a bit narrow for 2 hgvs .you might want to have a look behind halfords down the road this was originally stone bridge before being replaced and was the original rd to blacon.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Sean thank you. Going to Halfords tomorrow, I'll take a look

[@sailingschooners8668]

I lived here mid late 60s before moving to London...a great City is Chester...

[@ianstewartbrown5308]

Thank you for a very informative video of a part of the city that I have never explored

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Ian. It's an area which have been largely redeveloped leaving few clues as to it's past. Great fun finding them though.

[@MrWoofie62]

Brilliant. When I was a nipper on school holidays (the early 70s) I used to fish all along the canal and also the Dee at the back of Crane Bank Garage! The mechanics would often pop over for a quick chat on their lunch break and would let me refill my Thermos Flask with Tea if I was there for a long fishing session...Everywhere has changed so much. Still great to see though. Thank you.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Wolfie. Lovely story, happy to bring back good memories.

[@KevinRogers-vn7og]

Funny you should say that! So did I. In the basin opposite and next to Telfords (pre-pub), in the boatyard, on the small section next to Whipcord Lane, in the basin at South View, and on the Cop where the canal comes in. I caught many flatties and eels off crane Wharf. We probably bumped into each other back then. A lot of new building around there now - I liked it when there were those little wild, neglected areas. All the best.

[@toolmaker9411]

Thank you. Well researched and well presented.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

[@peterwright617]

Nice video, and again an area I didn't know much about. I can't find anything about kop being a Saxon word but it is South African and was brought back to the UK following the Boer War. I'm sure you know that side of the story. Thanks.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Hi Peter, thank you for watching and your kind comments. I thought the same until I carried out a bit of research. This particular earthwork pre dates South Africa by a considerable time scale.

[@peterwright617]

@@PASTFINDERexploring Further research has shown me that Copp is from Saxon origin and means hill! Great work. Thanks again for the vid.

[@barry5787]

An area where a lot of Hollyoaks was filmed

[@goldieandblackie]

That rubbish

[@robertjones-eb4xo]

Excellent Docu. Iv lived in the New Crane st area 1950s The picture of the Crane has a Cart with Lowes Silversmiths on the side, it's STILL a shop in the Rows !

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Robert. I bet New Crane Street looked very different in those days. I didn't know that the barge advertisers still existed. The painting was made in the 1990's by Gordon Frickers, so there was an obvious attention to local detail.

[@robertjones-eb4xo]

@@PASTFINDERexploring Hello, Has not changed THAT much , around the old Crane Bank, sure the developers would love to put more Flats there as they are elsewhere as you know. Iv just Tx my Brother as he used to work as a Silversmith at Lowes , the shop has not changed a bit, marvellous .

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

@@robertjones-eb4xo Great stuff, superb links to the past

[@cestriankiwi]

The sluice house was in the 1960's home of the Potato Marketing board and yes the bridge did have a coresponding side narrowing the road to a single lane.

[@PASTFINDERexploring]

Thanks Hugh, I assumed the lack of opposite bridge parapet was something along those lines.