Middlemen in English Business 243 



In conclusion, it is noticeable that the iron trade is pecuUarl}- 

 characterized b\- its want of definite middlemen. 



{b) Salt. 



Saltmaking was to some extent a coastal occupation. Some parts 

 of the coast for different reasons specialized at the business. One 

 such was Limington and Portsea in Hants. The sea water was drawn 

 into trenches and ponds and allowed to concentrate by evaporation 

 bv the sun's heat and later in large pans by furnace heat.^ This 

 industry of Hants declined before the growing competition of the rock 

 salt of Cheshire and Worcestershire.- 



The Droitwich salt springs in Worcester iiave been continuoush- 

 worked for salt manufacture since the eighth century. In 1539 there 

 were 360 furnaces used for evaporating the saltwater from three 

 springs. Wood was used for fuel. The output of salt was voluntarily 

 limited so as to maintain prices and to retard the deforestation of 

 the district.^ Monopoly and scarcity of fuel, therefore, at this date 

 prevented the development of the industry. The industry had made 

 little progress by the reign of James I. At this time Habington 

 described the salt industry and detailed the method of ownership 

 and manufacture.^ The inhabitants divided the spring's water 

 among themselves on strict proportions according to the number of 

 "phates" or parts of phates owned b>' each person in fee simple. A 

 |)hate consisted of 215 large vessels of saltwater; it was made up of 

 twelve "wickburdens'' of eighteen gallons; six gallons being drawn 

 from the top, middle, and bottom of the well, respectively, to insure 

 that each got water of like concentration. Certain "tyesmen" super- 

 \ised this admeasurement. The saltwater after this inspection h\ 

 the tyesmen was carried to the "seates" where it was evaporated. 

 The ownership of a phate was the basis of citizenshij^ and of wealth. 

 The industry was handicapped by poor transportation facilities. In 

 1680 a Salter Gardiner was encouraged to sell salt in Gloucestershire: 

 this was a greater distance than had as yet been attempted at market- 

 ing.-'' The monopoly of the salters was broken in 1690 b>- one Steynor. 

 The trade greath- increased and the price of salt fell ^-ery precipitately.*^ 



' See descriptions by Celia Fiennes, 38. 



^V. C. H., Hants, V, 471. 



^ Leland, Itinerary, IV, 110. 



^ Habington. Survey of Worces., 296-7. 



'^ Nash, Worces., 1. 306. 



'' Ibid., 298. 



