Hockenhull Platts

Platts Lane originally formed part of the medieval road from London to Holyhead. In 1353 when Edward, the Black Prince, crossed the bridges, he ordered that 20 shillings should be spent on their repair. In the 17th century the surface of the road was disintegrating so badly that posts were set into the road to prevent the passage of carts, and it could be used only by pedestrians and horses. Goods were carried by convoys of packhorses led by a driver (or jagger) walking in front. The pioneer female traveller Celia Fiennes crossed the bridges in 1698, as did Thomas Pennant in 1780. The present bridges probably date from the latter part of the 18th century. In 1824 Cheshire County Council…

Hockenhull Platts consists of three humpback bridges which are approached and connected by causeways. The bridges are constructed from tooled blocks of red sandstone. The parapets are plain and are surmounted by chamfered coping stones which are joined by iron ties. The carriageway is formed from a mixture of stone setts and cobbles. The central bridge crosses the River Gowy. Formerly the three bridges and causeways were necessary because the whole area was too marshy to be crossed by any other means. However, in the 20th century a scheme was carried out to lower the water level of the whole of the River Gowy to prevent possible flooding of Stanlow Refinery, which is situated near the…