Monument record 3 - Denhall Quay

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ27 NE 3 (Index). SCH2487.

No trace was found of a port in the area of Denhall House (SJ29707502) and the site of Denewell Port was not identified. The disused Denhall Quay shown by the Ordnance Survey at SJ28947593 is about 1000m north of Denhall House, and only about 800m south of the probable site of Neston Quay. It was probably constructed to carry coal from the adjacent colliery. The quay is a sandstone structure, and much has collapsed into the river. The remains stand up to 1.5m above the mud. [White JH, 28/02/1961].

<2> Chester Courant, 1878-1990, The Cheshire Sheaf, Vol. VI, p.88, [1155] (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH3105.

‘…The Port of Denwall in Wirral: In the ’Originalia Rolls’ in the Public Record Office under date 2 Edward II, is mentioned the appointment of a Collector of Customs of Wines to the King’s use in the Ports of Denewell…………..No doubt the Denewell named is Denwall near Neston in Wirral.’

<3> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Miles LJ, 1990 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

First movement of coal by sea from Denhall quay was recorded in the Chester Port Book in July 1766 (CRO QDN/1/5). This quay did not exist before the mid eighteenth century. Neither Captain Grenville Collins' survey of the River Dee (1689) or John MacKays' Plan of the River Dee (1732) show a quay at Denhall. The quay is mentioned in an advertisement in 'The Courant' in 1812 when the Colliery was offered for sale.

<4> Bidlake, W, 1936, Neston Church and Parish: A Brief Historical Survey, p.13 (Book). SCH2241.

About the middle of the fourteenth century Neston began to be a seaport of note. As the place for embarkation for Ireland, it succeeded Denwall, where remains of the old seawall way still be seen.

<5> Woodward, DM, 1970, The Trade of Elizabethan Chester, p.2 (Book). SCH3247.

<6> Dawson G, 1996, Wyrale: Wirral Topics, p. 39-62 (Book). SCH3853.

Article discussing history of coal mining in the Neston area.

<7> Annakin-Smith, A, 2006, The Neston Collieries and Associated Industrial Workings, 1759 to 1855., p.29, p.31, p.76-8 & p.84-90 (Unpublished Document). SCH4771.

The first river-borne movement of coal from Ness Colliery for which records still exist was in August 1764. The quay itself was built in 1791. There was an earlier quay, built in the 1760's, from which the coal would have been shipped. This earlier quay appears on no maps after 1849 and there is no sign of it today. The 1812 advertisement in The Courant offered Ness Colliery to let, not for sale. (See also source 13)

<8> Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council, 2007, Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council Local List of Historic Buildings, LL46 (Index). SCH5437.

The quay is constructed from massive sandstone blocks, which form a jetty which extends into the estuary. Close to the Old Harp Inn, the quay was built in the middle of the 18th century to export coal from the Denhall Colliery to Ireland and the Isle of Man. The quay also served the later colliery at Neston. When, in 1866, the railway arrived at Neston the quay became redundant.

<9> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 286/2 c.1845 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The quay, associated with a tramway to the limekilns at the adjacet colliery, is depicted on this map.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ2875, 1874-1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts the quay. There has been significant silting on the northern and southern sides with only the western end now accessible. A small building has been built partway down its length.

<11> Bluesky International Ltd, 2010, 2010 Bluesky Survey, UXP_101011_6546, 11/10/2011 (Aerial Photograph). SCH5444.

The stonework associated with the southern side of the quay is clearly visible on this aerial photograph.

<12> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, 1m Composite DSM (WMS) 10/04/2019 (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

The southern wall of the quay is clearly visible. To the north is a further similar earthwork or structure orientated north-east to south-west and c.65m long. This feature does not correspond with the location of the quays northern wall. Possibly part of an earlier quay or a breakwater associated with this quay.

<13> Annakin-Smith, A, 2007-8, The Neston Collieries - Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in Wirral and West Cheshire, Cheshire History, 47, 2007-8, p.96-111 (Article in Journal). SCH9364.