Monument record 10867/1/0 - Chester to Connah’s Quay line (GCR)

The Chester to Connah’s Quay line proposed in 1888 and opened in 1890 following the construction of a new line by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway from the Northgate Station to the junction at Hawarden Bridge where it joined the existing Great Central Railway line. The line passed north-west out of Chester past Liverpool Road Station (CHER 10867/1/1) and Blacon Station (CHER 10867/1/2) both of which are now defunct.

The Great Central Railway Company replaced the former Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company in 1897 following the decision to expand south. In 1923 it was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway. In the 1890s the lines were jointly run by the GCR and the Cheshire Lines Committee. (4)

Despite nationalisation of the railways in 1948, the line remained active between Chester and Connah’s Quay. Intermediate stations at Liverpool Road and Blacon were closed during the 1960s in favour of the more populous areas, however, the line itself closed briefly in 1984, opening again in 1986 until the 1990s when it finally closed for good. Between 2000 and 2009 the line was replaced and the stations re-landscaped with a cycle and footpath route. (5)

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p92-93 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.

<5> Lambeth. R, Catford N, Young A., 2012, Disused Stations (Web Site). SCH6822.