Monument record 11449 - Handbridge Copperas

<1> Various, Written Communication to the HER, Welsh, T 01/02/2014 (Written Communication). SCH3756.

Handbridge had a copperas in the 18th century. There is a description of this in Adams Weekly Courier 31st August/21st September 1784. I’ve pinpointed the works to Edgar Place, between 32 and 34 Greenaway Street SJ 407655, a plot there on the Tithe Award later infilled with houses, but formerly known as Copperas Terrace. In 1784 it had buildings, a reservoir, pans, coolers and other utensils, several small dwelling houses, a barn and a large garden adjoining, suitable for enlarging the works.

The sulphurous substance called Copperas Stone was extracted from three beds comprising 1388 square yards. One possible location is Mine Bank, so named on the Tithe Award, at Riverside to west of Nowhere, where there are holes in the rock face. But these terraces in Craft Field (see CHER 11379) could also represent the beds from which the mineral source was extracted. It was described as being of exceedingly good quality and in high demand.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1872-1875, Metric Ten Foot Scale Town Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6780.

The area which is now Edgar Place, was known as Copperas Court.