Monument record 1696/2 - Lower Dirtwich Saltworks

<1> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 427/2, 1838 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The tithe map for Wigland township depicts a large building to the east of the Wych Brook and south of road. It is recorded in the apportionment as Lower Wych Salt Works, yard, etc. and was owned by Lord Kenyon.

<2> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Turner RC, 29/05/1987 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

A brick-lined circular brine pit, c.7m in diameter, was revealed recently when the capping collapsed. The brickwork suggests the pit was used into the mid-late nineteenth century. Alongside the Wych Brook is a simple low weir of heavy stone boulders. On the southern bank (i.e. the Welsh side) is the setting for a waterwheel and evidence of other structures.

<3> Twigg G, 2007, Saltmaking at Higher and Lower Dirtwich, p.15-16, p.20 (Article in Journal). SCH9219.

The tithe apportionment confirms that this salt works was operating in 1838. The brine pit for this works was on the Iscoyd side of the river and there are the remains in the bed of the river of the foundation stones for the weir and the undershot water-wheel which drove the brine pump. The tithe map depicts the salt works itself was on the Wigland side. Documentary sources indicate that the works finally closed in about 1855. The most impressive feature remaining is the brine pit, 14-15 feet in diameter, which was brick lined and covered with a brickwork dome. The dome collapsed in September 1983 revealing a fourteen foot wide pit still some fifty feet deep after the fall of bricks and overburden. The brine level, which was about eight feet above that of the adjacent river, was sampled and analysed in the spring of 1984.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ4844, 1874-1876 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

No buildings or features associated with the saltworks are depicted.

<5> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

Depicts the salt works, labelled Low Wych Salt Works.

<6> JA Story & Partners, 1985, 1985 Story & Partners Survey, 26/85_188 Run 11, 30/05/1985 (Aerial Photograph). SCH2993.

The exposed brine pit (or well) is visible on this aerial photograph.

<7> Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust, 2012, Medieval and Early Post-Medieval Industry in East and North-East Wales: The Scheduling Enhancement Programme, p.60-2 (Report). SCH9221.

Two artificial brine pits are recorded at Lower Wych in the Clwyd-Powys HER. Lower Wych brine pit and waterwheel (CPAT 101915) located at SJ 4862 4439 comprises the filled-in brine pit together with a second pit for a waterwheel used to pump the saline solution to the salt works on the Cheshire bank of the Wych Brook. The salt works belonged to Lord Kenyon in 1838 according to the Tithe survey but are known to have closed in 1856 (see 2).