Wynn, Bart.) from whence it pursues a northerly and serpentine course, passing Eaton Hall, the splendid mansion of Earl Grosvenor, to the city of Chester, from which place, to the sea, it is navigable. The length of the present navigation, from Hand Bridge to the end of the new channel, where it opens into the estuary of the Dee, is little more than eight miles; and from thence, by the low water channel, passing Park Gate, to the opening into the Irish Sea, off Great Helbre Island and Light House, the distance is fifteen miles and a half.
The first act of parliament relating to this river occurs in the 11th and 12th years of the reign of William III. entitled, 'An Act to enable the Mayor and Citizens of Chester to recover and preserve the Navigation of the River Dee,' in which it is stated, that the Dee was anciently navigable to Chester for ships and vessels of considerable burthen, but by neglect of the said river, and for want of sufficient protection against the flux and reflux of the sea, the channel had become so uncertain, that the navigation was nearly destroyed. It was upon this River Dee, as history relates, that Edgar the Peaceable was rowed by eight tributary princes.
By the act of William, however, the mayor and citizens of Chester were authorized to make the Dee navigable, between Chester and the sea, for ships of one hundred tons burthen or upwards; and for which certain rates on coal, lime, and limestone, were allowed to be collected for the term of twenty-one years; in which time, however, the river was not made navigable, although considerable sums of money were spent in endeavouring to attain this desirable end.
Another act was therefore obtained in 1734, entitled, 'An Act to recover and preserve the Navigation of the River Dee, in the county palatine of Chester,' by which Nathaniel Kinderley, his heirs and assigns, were appointed undertakers of the navigation, and authorized to make the river navigable to Wilcox Point, with 16 feet water in moderate spring tides.
Seven years were allowed for the execution of the necessary works, and certain rates were allowed to be collected; but it appears that Kinderley was in trust for Thomas Watts and Richard Manley, Esquires, who afterwards nominated forty persons as the undertakers.
