The city of Chester stands on the River Dee. A stone weir on the river has survived since the eleventh century. It was built on the site of an embankment dam to provide water for the water mills mills and, in the early 20th century, a hydro-electric power station. Just beyond the dam is the Old Dee Bridge (Old Bridge over the Dee). The first bridge on this site was built as early as Romans and lasted until the Norman Conquest. At the end of the 14th century the bridge was was rebuilt in stone, using local red sandstone, and the bridge has survived to the present day. It's an arch bridge with seven spans, all of different lengths.
In the 19th century, one bridge was not enough for the city, and in 1832 the Grosvenor Bridge was built. This bridge is also of the arch type, but single span. It was was inaugurated by Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duchess of Kent, and Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent, the future Queen Victoria.
The architect of the bridge, Thomas Harrison, unfortunately did not live to see the opening of his bridge. He died in 1829, and construction was completed under the direction of his pupil, William Cole.
Much of Chester's land is owned by the Duke of Westminster. Duke of Westminster is a title, and the Duke's ancestral surname is Grosvenor, which is what explains the name of Grosvenor Bridge and the Grosvenor Park and Hotel.
There is another bridge in the city, only pedestrianised, which is the Queen Park Suspension Bridge.
