Geograph - photograph every grid square

Packhorse Bridge at Hockenhull Platts

Hockenhull Platts consists of three bridges which are known as the "Packhorse Bridges". They have been designated by English Heritage as Grade II listed buildings and are situated where Platts Lane crosses the River Gowy.
Although the bridges are in England, they are not far from the Welsh border and it is likely that their name is derived from a combination of English and Welsh roots. Platt is an Old English word for "bridge" and is associated with "plank". "Hock" may come from the Welsh hocan which means to peddle or to sell abroad. Hen is Welsh for "old" and hoel means a paved way or road. It is therefore possible that Hockenhull Platts means "the bridges on the old peddlars' way".
The present bridges probably date from the latter part of the 18th century. In 1824 Cheshire County Council proposed to divert the road from Nantwich to Chester and make it pass along Platts Lane, which would have led to the destruction of the bridges. However the land on which they stood belonged to the Marquess of Westminster, and he refused permission for the road to be diverted.