The bridges are known locally as " The Roman Bridges" and it is certain that there were bridges there at the time of the Roman occupation of Chester. However these were probably constructed from timber and were in use until the late 15th C. When work was being done to underpin the present stone structures in the 1940's some earlier timber post construction (probably roman) was exposed. The three stone bridges that can be seen today were constructed around about 1470 and are typical pack horse bridges with a single arch construction. They are connected by a causeway or an embankment of over 250 metres built of earth, clay and topped with sets or cobbles. This enabled travellers along the old highway from Chester to London to cross the marshland surrounding the various courses of the River Gowy in comparative comfort.

We know that the route was in active use in the 13th century, as the Black Princes' Register contains reference to the maintaining of the bridges at Hockenhull. In fact the Prince ruled the County of Chester until 1355, and it is recorded that he paid twenty shillings for the upkeep of the bridges in that year; "a grant of 20 shillings for the repair of the bridge of Hokenhull" The Black Prince as Prince of Wales & Earl of Chester had good reason to keep the road in good repair, as he would travel along the highway from London to Chester often in a great hurry, to obtain money and men from the rich landowners of Cheshire to enable him to fight battles overseas. The Battle of Crecy was one such battle in 1346.

Nearly two hundred years later a further reference to a bridge at Hockenhull appears in the will of one Ralph Rogers, a citizen of Chester who in 1539 made testamentary provision of 10 shillings for its repair.

William Webb in his perambulations of Cheshire in 1620, writes in his book "The Vale Royal of England" of a passage over the Gowy as part of "our great London roadway to Chester, wanting nothing but a bridge for carts to passe that way when the river riseth, which were a very necessary and charitable work to be done."

Whether the construction of such a bridge for carts was ever contemplated is unknown, but 55 years later they are clearly shown as three stone bridges on John Ogilby's map and are only wide enough for use by the pack horse trade or by travellers on horseback. Ogliby's "Britannia Road Book" was produced in 1675, and the section from Nantwich to Chester is particularly interesting for local people as it also shows a gibbet at Brown Heath and the Glass House Inn at Christleton.