200 A HISTORY OF SALT-MAKING IN ESSEX. 



and Maldon ; at all of which places, the refiners used " water- 

 borne" coal for boiling their brine-pans. 



At Colchester, the industry continued until at least 1793, 

 when John Buckingham was a " dealer in salt " there, and John 

 Luff kept a « Salt Office." 18 



At Manningtree, the industry survived even later; for, in 

 1823, one James Monteith, residing there, was described 19 as 

 a " salt-refiner and coal merchant." 



In 1S36, there were in England thirteen salt-works (or, 

 rather, salt-refineries) making salt from rock-salt, using " sea 

 water as a solvent." Of these, two are stated to have been 

 in Essex — at Manningtree and Maldon.' 20 Probably, however, it 

 did not survive long at Manningtree. 



At Maldon alone has the industry continued to the present 

 day. That the town was formerly recognized generally as 

 a centre of the salt-making trade is shown by the fact that, 

 in 1785, a writer spoke' 21 of the demand for " the famous Maldon 

 salt," while in 1823 another described' 2 ' 2 Maldon as " famous for 

 its salt." Yet it seems clear that much of the salt which passed 

 as Maldon salt was made, in reality, in the adjacent parishes of 

 Goldhanger and Heybndge, on the opposite side of the river. 



In 1786, Morant wrote' 23 that, at Goldhanger, there was a 

 " a considerable salt-work, in which is used Rock-Salt brought 

 from Cheshire, mixed with sea- water." This establishment was, 

 apparently, still working at Goldhanger in 1S19, when Cromwell 

 wrote : — 24 



"The salt-works here are considerable. Rock-salt from Cheshire was formerly 

 used ; but, in consequence of the erection of very extensive works by Messrs. 

 Bridges, Johnson, and Co., the manufactory of salt from the sea-water by steam 

 has been practised with considerable success." 



In all probability, Cromwell here confuses the " very 

 extensive works" of the firm named (which appear to have 

 been, in reality, in the adjoining parish of Heybridge : see post) 

 with the earlier salt-works at Goldhanger. 



In 1889, our Past-Presidents, Dr. Laver and Mr. E. A. Fitch, 



18 See Brit. Directory. 1793, ii., pp. 522 and 523. The " Salt Works " at the Hythe are 

 shown on Thomas Sparrow's Survey 0/ Colchester 1I/67) and on Chapman and Andre's Map 

 of Essex (1777). 



19 Pi got' s Directory, 1828, p. 299. 



20 See Rtp. of Select Com. on Salt (British India) (1836), p. 218. 



21 See John Phillips, Treatise on Inland Navigation (1785), p. 18. 



22 Pigot's Directory, 1828, p. 289. 



23 Hist, of Essex, i., p. 389. See also the Hist, of Essex, by " a Gentleman," v (1772), 

 P. 385. 



24 Excursions through Essex, i, p. 41. 



