The mouth of the Holywell stream began to be substantially developed as a dock in the early 1700s. It was extended in the 1780s when the companies expanding up the Greenfield valley need more developed wharves to ship materials in and out. A large reservior was made by building a dam across the stream. At low tide, the sluice gate would be opened and the water released to scour away the silt that had accumulated at the quays. K Davies, in his book 'The Greenfield Valley' notes that individual companies then rented a section of the wharf and its associated storage sheds. In 1802, a sailing ship provided a ferry service between Greenfield, Parkgate and Chester, though Bagillt later replaced Greenfield as a stopping place. In 1857, an iron steamship began to operate a passenger service between Greenfield and the Prince's Pier, Liverpool. However, it appears it only worked at irregular intervals until 1865. Various more attempts to establish a ferry service were begun, but none were sustained. Sailing Directions dating to 1870 note that vessels of 11ft draught could be admitted at springs, and those of 5 ft at neaps. By 1890, Newton Keates held most of the leases for the wharf frontages. When that firm closed, the remaining users of the harbour did not justify its continued high upkeep. When the LNWR took over the railway, the railway link to the wharf was also removed. In recent years, some regeneration and upgrading has been undertaken by Flintshire Council.

Sources include:
Admiralty, 1870, Sailing Directions for the West Coast of England from Milford Haven to the Mull of Galloway including the Isle of Man, pg124
Davies, K, 1986, The Greenfield Valley

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, August 2014.