Conservation Area: Handbridge (Chester) Conservation Area (133)

Handbridge is a suburb immediately south of the walled city of Chester developed along the route of the original Dee crossing. Romans mined sandstone rock here, and a Roman carving of Minerva can be seen today in Edgar's Field. The Old Dee Bridge is all that remains of the Middle Ages here as this 'community without the walls' suffered from numerous attacks over the years. At this time, there were many corn, malt and fulling mills in the area, generating much income. Handbridge continued to be a productive industrial suburb until the late 19th century. Snuff and tobacco were produced at that watermill and the site to the east of the Old Dee Bridge contained a skinners or tanners. There were also rope makers to be found here and numerous market gardens and nurseries in the western part. Fishing, the other main activity, was the traditional occupation of the residents of Greenway Street.