Site Event/Activity record ECH6765 - Refurbishment of the Brine Extraction Train, Lion Salt Works, Marston, Northwich, Cheshire: An Archaeological Watching Brief

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in July 2019 at the former Lion Salt Works, Marston, near Northwich, Cheshire (centring on NGR SJ 67096 75469). The Lion Salt Works, including part of the Alliance Salt Works, are scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (List entry number: 1020841). The watching brief was carried out during groundworks associated with a refurbishment scheme to part of the salt works known as the brine extraction train (BET), a structure that permitted the extraction of brine from a bore-hole sunk during the 1930s. This work forms part of a programme of archaeological mitigation and followed on from limited trial pitting undertaken in 2018. The results of this demonstrated that little of archaeological significance would be disturbed within the general areas of proposed intrusive works but, considering the Scheduled status of the monument, a precautionary archaeological watching brief should be maintained (Earthworks 2018a). The groundworks associated with the refurbishment scheme were undertaken during July 2019. Although no significant archaeological remains or deposits were encountered, the results of the watching brief revealed limited structural information relating to the brine extraction train. (1)