Monument record 1696/4/0 - Salt Production at Higher Dirtwich

<1> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, vol .IV p.51-52 (Book). SCH3228.

Higher Wych and Lower Wych: The higher and lower factories, the dirty works. Referred to in 1528 as two Wichehouses otherwise named Saltehouses in the townes of Overwiche and Lagherwiche in Iscoyde. Referred to in 1537 as six saltcottes and six tofts in Drytwiche alias Fulwyche alias Wichehagh. They were part of the barony of Malpas, lying in Wigland, Wychough and Iscoyd [now Wales], and anciently within the lost Domesday Manor of Burwardestone.

<2> Twigg G, 2007, Saltmaking at Higher and Lower Dirtwich, p.4-10 (Article in Journal). SCH9219.

The Domesday Book records a salthouse in the manor of Burwardstone. This is a lost manor but the presence of the salthouse identifies it as the present day township of Iscoyd. This manor was given by Earl Hugh to Robert the son of Hugh of Malpas.

In the mid-1090s the foundation Charter of St. Werburgh's Abbey in Chester records that a salthouse was included in Robert's endowment to the abbey. The charter furthermore contains the first mention of the name Fulwich. In the time of King Edward this salthouse was held by the Bishop of Chester. Documents of this period suggest there were as many as ten salthouses and it is possible that each may have had its own brine pit.

The name Fulwich had fallen into disuse by the sixteenth century, to be replaced by Dirtwich, and deeds place the properties in either Wigland or Iscoyd township. The saltworks at Dirtwich were damaged during the Civil War, but continued to operate into the nineteenth century.

<3> Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust, 2012, Medieval and Early Post-Medieval Industry in East and North-East Wales: The Scheduling Enhancement Programme, p.60-62 (Report). SCH9221.

Both Higher and Lower Wych were the site of a number of salt works, three brine pits at Upper Wych that ceased working in 1830 and 1840, and two at Lower Wych, which ceased working in 1856. One of the brine pits consisted of a shaft 450ft deep, into which a small stream of brine flowed at a depth of 60ft. There are documentary references relating to salt works in Higher Dirtwich dated 1725 (Cheshire Archives DCH/D/372) and 1750 (Cheshire Archives DCH/C/631), but these are just over the border in Cheshire. Twigg (see 2), however, notes a brine spring nearby at SJ 497 435, on the Welsh side of the border (CPAT 122235). It may be the site of another salt works but lacks documentary evidence.