MANUFACTURE OF SALT IN CHESHIRE. 19 



manufacture of salt ; and most probably the increasing 

 demand stimulated the maker to increase the size of the 

 pan. 



We have no statistics showing the quantity of salt made 

 in early times. Judging, however, from the size of the 

 pans or leads, there could not be much manufactured. 

 The possession of a house containing six leads was of quite 

 sufficient importance to be mentioned in Domesday Book 

 as belonging to certain towns or villages. Many of the salt- 

 houses in the " Wyches " belonged to noblemen, and appear 

 to have been used to make salt for their houses ; for we 

 read, u There is in Wych half a salt-house to supply the 

 Hall.'" In 1 605 we read in an old letter, u There is in 

 the said Towne (Northwich) one hundred and thirteen 

 salt houses every one containing four leads apeece . . . and 

 one Four leads which was given to the Earl of Derby . . . 

 for the portion of his house." 



From an estimate made about 1675, by William Lord 

 Brereton, it would seem that about 305 tons 7 cwt. of salt 

 were made at Northwich weekly; 107 tons 10 cwt. at 

 Middlewich; and 105 tons at Nantwich. Thus the total 

 Cheshire make would be about 26,927 tons per annum. 

 The whole of this was for the home trade. In 1732 only 

 5202 tons of manufactured salt were shipped down the 

 river Weaver, made navigable in 1 72 1 . None of this came 

 from Middlewich and Nantwich, but from Winsford and 

 Northwich. In 1801 this had reached 142,675 tons per 

 annum. In 1820 we find 186,666 tons sent down the 

 Weaver. In 1 825 the salt-duty was taken off ; and in 1 830 

 the quantity sent down the Weaver reached 312,012 tons 

 in the year, and in 1840 414,156 tons. In 1844 English 

 salt was allowed to be sent to the East Indies ; and the 

 result is seen by the exports down the Weaver reaching 

 607,395 tons in 1850. During the next ten years the 



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