Find Spot record 719/0/3 - Condate - Roman lead salt pans

<1> Thompson, F.H., 1964, A History of Cheshire. Volume Two: Roman Cheshire, p.258, 1886 (Book). SCH2862.

In 1864 some leaden salt pans were found when enlarging a boat builders yard on the W bank of the Weaver, known as 'The Dockyard'. They were 8-9ft below the surface. Watkin mentions 2 pans, measuring 3.5ft long x 2.5ft wide x 6ins deep. One, in Warrington Museum, is 261 lbs in weight. One had the letters IIICCCIII cut upon it, while the other had )EVE. Suggested they are Roman, but Watkin considers them medieval

<2> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1845-Present, Archaeological Journal, Vol 22, p.77-78, Robson J, 1865 (Journal/Periodical). SCH338.

Robson mentions 3 salt pans.

<3> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 6ns, 1865, p.199-201, Kendrick J, (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

Kendrick mentions 4.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ67SE6/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

'The Dockyard' could not be positively identified, but the present Castle dockyard centred at SJ 65577324 appears to be the one referred to. A lead salt pan 3.5ft x 2.75ft x 4ins is preserved at ICI Ltd, Brunner House, Winnington, Northwich, believed to have been found in 1864. It is probably early medieval, but lead analysis shows it to be comparable with Roman lead.

<5> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, Vol 1, p.200-1, Petch D F, 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

Illustrations and discussion.

<6> Vaudrey B H, 1875, Antiquarian Scrapbook (Graphic Material). SCH283.

A contemporary account and illustrations was made by B.H Vaudrey. He records that inside the bottom "was all over pick marks, done in getting the scale off no doubt. There were some bits of fused lead found with the above that had run into the ashes. These had charcoal sticking to them. A wooden ladle - the handle gone (appeared just broken off) was found with the pans. It had been coated with some sort of paint and would carry about half a pint".

<7> Society of Antiquities London, 1921-2014, The Antiquaries Journal, Vol 22, p.76-77, Rock Reverend Canon, 1865 (Journal/Periodical). SCH284.

Further description, the entire pan in Warrington museum described as being 3'4" by 2'10" by 4" deep, the lead being 1/2" to 3/4" and decorated. A fragment in the possession of Dr Kendrick of Warrington inscribed DEVAE.