Monument record 2513/4 - Site of Salt Store, Lion Salt Works

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 1329876 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Salt shed, mid C19, timber framed, weatherboarded, roof replaced in corrugated asbestos. Gabled, approximately 30 metres by 10 metres. Doors to Trent and Mersey Canal at one end; large loading entry from forecourt at other end; high level loading door, with internal platform, opening to canal bridge embankment. The horizontal boarding is on inner side of frame with ventilation gaps between boards. Some upper boarding has been replaced in corrugated asbestos. The only surviving salt shed for storage and transfer of salt from a working salt-works to canal boats.

<2> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2019, Salt Store Shed, Lion Salt Works, Marston, Northwich, Cheshire: An Archaeological Watching Brief, R4275 (Client Report). SCH8639.

In January 2019 an archaeological watching brief was undertaken during the dismantling of the salt shed at the former Lion Salt Works, Marston. This followed a structural survey that highlighted its poor and potentially dangerous condition. Being a Listed Building, Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) was required prior to the dismantling of the shed, this was granted in December 2018. The SMC stipulated that the dismantling process should take place under archaeological supervision (a watching brief) and a photographic record made of the process.

Dating to the mid nineteenth century, the salt store shed was of gabled, timber-framed and weatherboarded construction, the roof having been replaced in corrugated asbestos. Aligned north–south, the shed measured approximately 10m wide and 30m in length, with doors to the Trent and Mersey canal at the north end and a large loading entry off a forecourt located at the south end. An internal platform provided an opening to the adjacent canal bridge embankment to the east. The horizontal boarding to the shed was located on the inner side of the timber frame with ventilation gaps between the boards. Some of the upper boarding having been replaced in corrugated asbestos. The building is significant in being the only surviving salt shed for storage and transfer of salt from a working salt-works to canal boats.

Although nothing of archaeological significance was revealed during the dismantling of the shed, material deposited between the east elevation and the canal bridge embankment did produce some unexpected results in the form of cinders and waste pottery kiln furniture. This waste material included small cone-shaped spacers used to separate pottery vessels from each other during the glost (glaze) firing stage. Similar kiln furniture was used widely by the Staffordshire pottery industry from the 18th century and throughout the 19th century providing some indication as to the origins of this material. The cinder-rich waste material was probably deposited in order to build-up the embankment and, perhaps, as an aid to drainage.

Following demolition of the shed, the concrete retaining walls and timber floor were retained and are to be fenced off for future interpretation to the public.