Monument record 180/0/0 - Nantwich - The Salt-Making Industry

<1> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, Vol 1, p.258-9,Harris B, 1986 (Book). SCH3556.

Nantwich was the most important of the med inland salt-making towns in Cheshire & prob in England. Domesday gives a very accurate picture of the industry in C11. In 1066, it contained a brine pit, 8 demesne salthouses belonging to royalty & others held by commoners. Though part of the Parish of Acton, Nantwich was an important trading centre

<2> McNeil R, 1983, Two 12th-Century Wich Houses in Nantwich, Cheshire, Medieval Archaeology, Vol 27, 1983, p.40-88 (Article in Journal). SCH7354.

Excavations in advance of sewerage works in 1979/80 on land to the east of First Wood Street, revealed the well preserved remains of two 12th century salt houses. Both of similar plan but different construction. One was a wattle building with an entrance to the street and an open end to the river. Within the house were 2 storage tanks and 2 boiling areas and outside were 2 further storage areas. The second house was supported by posts along its side walls and one of storage tanks or 'ships' (hollowed out tree trunk) survived intact. Other items of wooden equipment were also found including salt rakes and a wicker barrow. Dating by dendrochronology shows that the construction was in the late 12th century. The first house was short lived but the second was in use for at least 300 years. A large group of medieval pottery was also recovered. The archaeological evidence suggests the Wood Street area west of the River Weaver was laid out as a planned industrial suburb, perhaps as an addition to the area around the brine pit.

<3> Cholmondeley Papers, 1624, Survey of Wallingland - 1624, DCH/Y/10 (Maps and Plans). SCH3002.

A sketch plan of the 'Wallingland' shows the maximum extent of the industry in 1624.

<4> Twigg G, 1987, Maps of Wallingland - 1624, Nantwich (Unpublished Document). SCH2118.

Detailed analysis of the survey of 1624 (source 3) by George Twigg has enabled a map of all the salt houses and their owners to be drawn and tentatively fitted to modern topography.

<5> Nantwich Museum, 1980, Salt making in Nantwich (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH9648.

The spring near the R.Weaver in Nantwich was known as 'Old Biot'. The brine was channelled to the salt houses where it was stored in barrels sunk into the ground or in a hollowed-out tree trunk, known as a 'ship'. The brine was then heated in large lead pans, the process known as 'walling'; when lukewarn, a mixture of ale, bullocks' blood and egg white was added to bring impurities to the surface as scum. When enough water had evaporated, the wet salt was placed in conical baskets or 'barrows' for draining. Finally the salt was dried in the hot part of the salt house behind the furnace. For many years the salt trade was strictly controlled by the 'Rulers of Walling' who regulated the supply of salt produced. The salt industry in Nantwich declined in the 18th century as rock salt deposits in Northwich and Winsford were exploited; the last salt works closed in 1856. However, in 1882 the old brine pit was cleaned out to supply newly built medicinal baths on Snow Hill.

<6> Williams B, 1981, Nantwich - Archaeological Implications Survey (Paper Archive). SCH2236.

Research on archaeological interventions and observations in Nantwich in the 1970s-80s.

<7> McNeil R (ed), 1980, Wood Street Salt Works, Nantwich (Monograph). SCH3717.

<8> Twigg G D, 1994, Salt Working In Cheshire (Report). SCH2919.

<9> McNeil R, 1980, Two medieval salt houses excavated in Wood Street, Nantwich 1980. (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH7375.

<10> Twigg G, July 1995, Survey of the Walling Lands, Nantwich, by George Twigg, 1995 (Written Communication). SCH7370.

<11> Twigg G, 1987-1988, Written correspondance, Nantwich (Written Communication). SCH7367.

<12> Twigg G, 1987, A Survey of the Walling Lands of Wich Malbank, September 2nd, 1624 (Transcript) (Unpublished Document). SCH7366.

<13> Williams B, 1978, Archaeology in Nantwich (Unpublished Report). SCH7365.

<14> Dodd, L et al, 2009, Second Wood Street, Nantwich, 2003/4: Excavation of a Medieval And Early Post Medieval Salt Works, JCAS, Volume 84, 2010-2014, p.39-110 (Article in Journal). SCH7353.

Excavation during 2003 ahead of the construction of residential properties at Second Wood Street, Nantwich, provided the opportunity to examine medieval and post-medieval remains associated with the industrial history of the town. The remains of a series of timber structures/salt wich houses (Structures 1,2,3, 4a,4b,5,6), were revealed, together with a range of artefacts connected with the expansive salt industry (rakes, wicker salt baskets, mallets). A hollowed out tree trunk or salt ship was recorded within Structure 1 dating to to the thirteenth century; it was re-used in later structures. Within Structure 4, a line of 8 barrels were recorded in a revetted channel, along with a hearth and the earlier salt ship. Dendrochronological dating of structural timbers indicated occupation on the site from as early as the late thirteenth century to the sixteenth centuries. The analysis of environmental samples has shed light on the medieval environment. Further work was undertaken in 2004 to excavate, lift and preserve the salt ship which is now on permanent display in Nantwich museum.

<15> York Archaeological Trust, 2007, A Medieval Salt ‘ship’ from Welsh Row/Second Wood Street, Nantwich, Cheshire., R3575 (Client Report). SCH7345.

Report on the lifting and conservation, in 2004, of the salt ship excavated from Second Wood Street.

<16> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2005, Proposed Redevelopment at The Three Pigeons Inn, Welsh Row, Nantwich, Cheshire: An Archaeological Evaluation, R2569 (Client Report). SCH4725.

The Three Pigeons Inn site was subject to an archaeological evaluation in 2005 in connection with proposals to construct a large extension to the rear of the existing building. Three trenches were excavated in the rear yard and beer garden revealing deep organic deposits, including medieval and post-medieval wooden structures in all three trenches. In addition, a further medieval salt ‘ship’ was encountered. In this instance, detailed discussions with the developers concerning the siting of piles and the depth of the ring beam ensured that the deposits could be preserved in situ.

<17> Morris C (ed), 1947, The Journeys of Celia Fiennes, p.177 (Book). SCH1466.

'Nantwich is a pretty large town and well built, here are the salt springs of which they make salt and many salterns which were a boyling the salt'.

<18> Tait J, 1916, The Domesday Survey of Cheshire, p.39-43; p.219-223 (Book). SCH8085.

The importance of the three great saltworks or Wiches is demonstrated by their individual treatment in Domesday Book where description of their 'laws and customs' occupies a column and a quarter of the survey. At the time of the Conquest the salt industry was in a poor state, with both Middlewich and Northwich described as 'waste' when Earl Hugh received them and in Nantwich only a single salthouse remained working, the industry was slow to recover. The Cheshire Wiches were not assessed in hides; they formed manufacturing enclaves. Nantwich had a well-defined boundary consisting of the river (Weaver) and a ditch. At the time of Domesday, there was a brinepit and 8 salinae or salthouses in Nantwich, divided two thirds/one third between the King and Earl Edwin. Earl Edwin also had a salthouse of his own which belonged to his manor of Acton. Other salthouses belonged to 'men of the country'.

<19> Nevell, M & Fielding, A., 2005, Brine in Britannia: Recent archaeological work on the Roman salt industry in Cheshire (Monograph). SCH7341.

<20> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, Issue 7, 1980, p.30-33, 'Nantwich, Three Years of Excavations and Observations', R.McNeil-Sale (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

<21> Jonathan GA Lageard & Ian B Drew, 2011, Salt in Cheshire (UK): Heritage, Recreation & Education (Graphic Material). SCH9656.