Hockenhull Platts

Hockenhull Platts are three old packhorse bridges standing where Platts Lane crosses the River Gowy, southwest of Tarvin village in Cheshire. The bridges sit in a flat, low-lying landscape once crossed only by packhorse trains carrying goods along the medieval London–Holyhead road. Their name may come from Welsh and English roots meaning ‘the bridges on the old pedlars’ way’. In 1353 Edward the Black Prince ordered 20 shillings spent on repairs after he crossed them. Later, in the 17th century, the road surface broke up and posts were set in to stop carts, leaving only pedestrians and horses to use the bridges. The present humpback bridges are built from red sandstone blocks with plain parapets and iron ties. The central bridge once spanned marshland until the river was lowered in the 20th century to protect Stanlow Refinery downstream. The Baker Way long-distance path now crosses all three bridges. To the west lies a nature reserve managed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, covering about 11 acres of reedbed, wet meadow and a sparse poplar plantation. More than 64 bird species have been recorded there, including three summer warblers, and otters have been seen along the river banks. The site also holds subtle earthworks beside the central bridge, probably post-medieval in date. A pair of prehistoric translucent flints was found nearby before 1940. The bridges and their surroundings offer quiet walks where history, engineering and wildlife meet beside the slow-moving River Gowy.