This lovely aerial photograph of the River Dee was taken sometime early in the 20th century, before the demolition of Thomas Harrison's prison (seen on the right) which had opened in 1792. The site is now occupied by County Hall.

Next to the gaol, the 13th century Agricola Tower rises above Harrison's rebuilt Castle and behind this is the approach road to his final work, which he did not live to see completed- the beautiful Grosvenor Bridge of 1832. Behind all lies the great open area of the Roodee, the home of Chester Racecourse.

In the foreground, a Norman weir leads to the Old Dee Bridge, which crossed the river just as it does today- and has continued to do for over 600 years. The building standing at its southern end is the still-extant Ship Inn and beyond is an open area anciently known as Edgar's Field.

Moored in the river here can be seen the boats of the Dee salmon fishermen- of whom you can see a photograph, approximately contemporary with the one above, here