Monument record 2646/1 - Marston Hall Mine

<1> Wharmby, P, 1987, Survey of Abandoned Salt Mine Workings and Brine Shafts in Cheshire (Report). SCH7995.

Desk-based survey undertaken in 1987 to record the remains of Cheshire's salt industry comprising a gazeteer of sites and plans at 1:2500. Marston Hall Mine recorded as a bottom bed mine working an area of 13.10 ha. and comprising a main mine shaft, an engine shaft, an air shaft, also a brine shaft. The cavity of this mine became progressively less stable over its last few years of working and artificial pillars were instated in the mine in 1896 and 1900. The mine eventually collapsed in 1907, breaching the Trent and Mersey canal, and a further collapse occurred in 1927.

<2> Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, 1992, Cheshire Weaver Valley Rolling Programme, An Archaeological Assessment., R2021 (Client Report). SCH4209.

The surface remains at Marston Hall Mine were surveyed and recorded in 1992 as part of an archaeological assessment undertaken for Cheshire Weaver Valley Rolling Programme. Remains recorded include brick buildings, brine cisterns, engine mountings, a canal arm and other earthworks. Well preserved partly due to the presence of woodland.

<3> Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust Archaeological Unit, 1993, Cheshire (Weaver Valley) Rolling Programme: Archaeological Site Investigation, R2055 (Client Report). SCH4208.

Extensive mine workings, covering an area of approx 5.5ha. The mine was first sunk into the bottom bed of salt deposits by William Hayes in 1850 and consisted of two main shafts, Old Brine Shaft and an Air Shaft. In 1873 the mine was described as height 6 yards, pillars 10 yds square and 25 yds apart, with the main shaft 110 yds deep. 80 miners were employed. In 1881 the area supported by pillars was 28 acres. It was closed in 1905 after a flood.

Extensive buildings and salt working machinery are recorded from 19th century documents and maps. Surviving buildings were present as earthworks, concentrated to the NE and SW of the square pool, composed of brick rubble. Some stand to a height of 2m. Included are the remains of an engine base built from sandstone blocks and a well preserved reservoir with earth banks. To the south of the pool was a complex of earthworks 110m x 60m, including remains of 3 large square structures that contained much brick rubble and 7 smaller rectangular structures. Associated with this site are the remains of a canal bridge, also shown on the 1st edition 25" OS. The N edge of the site is bound by a stone-built retaining wall of the canal which survives in fair condition to a height of 4m. Trenching found remains of the works were well preserved below ground.