This road bridge over River Dee was designed in 1824 by Thomas Harrison and built between 1827-1833 under the supervision of his pupil, William Cole the younger. Cconstructed by James Trubshaw, for the next three decades it was the longest stone arch in the world.

By the beginning of the 19th century, the only river crossing for Chetser, the Old Dee Bridge, was almost constantly congested and an alternative route was urgently required. In 1808 Chester Corporation had held a competition to select the best plans for a new bridge, but no further action was considered until Thomas Telford was appointed in 1815 to construct a new road from Shrewsbury to Holyhead. Because of this threat to Chester's trade, a public meeting was held on 28th September 1818 and a committee appointed, including the Mayor, the two city treasurers, the two Members of Pariiament for Chetser, Earl Grosvenor and the Bishop of Chester.

The committee was empowered to consider plans, surveys and estimates, and at its first meeting, held on 3rd October 1818, Thomas Harrison was requested to supply plans for a new bridge. Eventually application was made to Parliament for an Act to empower Commissioners to improve the Old Dee Bridge, erect a new bridge and construct approach roads. This Act received the royal assent on 10 June 1825.

The bridge was built at the then very considerable cost of £50,000. Thousands turned out to watch when the Grosvenor Bridge was formally opened on Wednesday 17 October 1832, by the thirteen year-old Princess Victoria (five years before she became Queen and three years after the death of Thomas Harrison). A toll was imposed on the bridge to recoup the construction costs, but it proved harmful to trade in the city and toll-fees were abolished in 1885, with maintenance obligations transferred to the Chester Corporation.

Constructed from red and cream Peckforton sandstone ashlar, a single deep segmental 61m (200 ft) span arch reaches across the river, with pavilion-abutments and an archway for pedestrians and coaches to each side. The glorious river arch has two rings of cream voussoirs with red sandstone outer moulding and two rings of long shallow voussoirs above and recessed spandrel panels. It is a Grade 1 Listed Structure.