EATON HALL 1824 Cheshire Thomas Telford SJ 418 601 HEW 856 SJ418 601 N52o 47' 30.2" W2o 1' 45.3"
PRIVATE PROPERTY This superbly cast iron single span arched bridge of four ribs which carries the private drive of Eaton Hall over the River Dee a few yards upstream from where the Roman road Watling Street crossed it at a ford. It was designed for the second Earl Grosvenor for his estate beside the village of Eccleston near Chester. It was either designed by Telford or his design for the Craigellachie Bridge was repeated by Hazledine. It is 17 feet wide and spans 150 feet. It has a subtle double horizontal curve and a lovely, crisp gothic design in the spandrels and a graceful, simple railing. It proudly names the team that built it: William Hazeldine, Contractor; William Stuttle, Clerk of Works; William Stuttl, Jr., Founder; William Crosley, Surveyor.
This is a private estate, so permission must be obtained to approach the bridge through the park. On the Chester circle road A55 take A483 exit toward Wexham and immediately turn right onto B5445 and then again immediately another right on to the unnumbered road to Eccleston. In Eccleston at the crossroads square with the cupola tower, take the west road (on the right) and go to the end where you will see the tall gilded iron gates of Eaton Hall and on the left a lane and public footpath to the River Dee. You can walk along the river to the bridge but it must be a good two mile hike.
