lizgould123
The Road To The Ford
This insignificant and tranquil pathway running down the side of the church in Shotwick , Cheshire , has seen incredible activity over the centuries . Cheshire salt was transported along this " saltesway " , numerous travellers used it as a shortcut to Wales , and massive English armies passed this way . Why ?.....because at the bottom of this lane was " Shotwick Ford " , which allowed Henry III in 1245 and Edward I in 1278 and 1284 to lead their mighty armies across the River Dee to attack Wales .
The fortunes of the village of Shotwick are closely bound up with the river. Its prosperity was dependent on the fishery, the ford and the ferry in the first Instance, but gradually as the Dee silted up and large vessels found it increasingly difficult to navigate as far as Chester and other outports in the estuary, they would discharge their cargoes at Shotwick. For about a hundred years, Shotwick took the place of Chester as the major port. At the end of this period, the Dee having silted up still further, Burton, Neston, Parkgate and Heswall each in turn handled the shipping which formerly went to Chester.
The Road To The Ford
This insignificant and tranquil pathway running down the side of the church in Shotwick , Cheshire , has seen incredible activity over the centuries . Cheshire salt was transported along this " saltesway " , numerous travellers used it as a shortcut to Wales , and massive English armies passed this way . Why ?.....because at the bottom of this lane was " Shotwick Ford " , which allowed Henry III in 1245 and Edward I in 1278 and 1284 to lead their mighty armies across the River Dee to attack Wales .
The fortunes of the village of Shotwick are closely bound up with the river. Its prosperity was dependent on the fishery, the ford and the ferry in the first Instance, but gradually as the Dee silted up and large vessels found it increasingly difficult to navigate as far as Chester and other outports in the estuary, they would discharge their cargoes at Shotwick. For about a hundred years, Shotwick took the place of Chester as the major port. At the end of this period, the Dee having silted up still further, Burton, Neston, Parkgate and Heswall each in turn handled the shipping which formerly went to Chester.