Monument record 1083/2/0 - Middlewich saltmaking

Saltworking at Middlewich was est prior to Norman Conquest.Brine was drawn from brine pits called Lunseth, Little Seyth, Newset, Brynseth & the Gt Seth(1). Some of these pits are reputed to be on the site of T & M canal wharf. Camden refers to 2 fountains of salt water called sheaths. Neighbouring townships were assoc with salthouses wichhouses which bore their names (eg Kinderton, Sproston, Croxton). The earliest recorded salthouses date from C13- Elworth House & Le Longe Wichehouse. At this date they are generally located between Leadsmithy, Lewin St & the Nver. By C16 there were refs to wichhouses along Kinderton St. There are few refs to wichhouses prior to the 1281 fire, but in mid C13 there were 75 salt pans in Middlewich, which were closed down by Henry III in his attempts to control uprisings in the NW. By 1605 there were 108 salthouses in Middlewich. A typical wichhouse prob occupied a narrow strip of land 5ft wide x 39ft long with a chimney at end & usually included a number of ancillary buildings, especially a woodyard. During C18 salt producing changed from a cottage industry to a factory operation using pans with an 800 gallon capactiy (2).

<1> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, 2/243 (Y) (Book). SCH3228.

<1> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, vol .II p.243 (Book). SCH3228.

<2> Thompson, P, 1981, Middlewich: The Archaeological Potential of a Town, /3-10 (Report). SCH2194.