APRIL— sept. 1858.] Brine-springs of Cheshire. 



105 



35s. per annum.* It is thought probable that at this period, the 

 chief export of Cheshire salt was to Wales, for the Welsh gave to 

 Nantwich the name of Hellath Wen, or the white salt-pit ; much 

 export trade could not have been carried on, for very long after 

 this date, the salt manufacture of Cheshire did not exceed the 

 consumption of the county itself, and a few of its immediately ad- 

 joining neighbours.! 



It is curious to observe how the importance of places decreases 

 in course of time through the effect of influences, at first ap- 

 parently but slightly adverse, becoming under somewhat altered 

 circumstances highly detrimental. Nantwich throughout the whole 

 of its early history held the first rank among the salt-producing 

 towns, — there were situated the brine-pits which Henry III. stop- 

 ped up in order to digress the Welsh by cutting off their supply 

 of that necessary article of food ; and when this embargo upon 

 the commercial activity of the town was withdrawn, we find it far 

 surpassing its former self in the energy of its undertakings. This 

 increasing prosperity and wealth continued until it reached a cul- 

 minating point, from which it has ever since gradually but irre- 

 trievably descended. It seems to have attained its summit in the 

 time of Henry VIII., for Leland states that at that time Nantwich 

 contained 300 salt-works : their reduction then began, and in the 

 early part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth their number had de- 

 creased to 216, whilst in 1624 they had dwindled nearly to 150. 

 The cause of this declension was want of water- carriage. Nant- 

 wich being unfortunately situated beyond that point of the Weaver 

 up to which it was navigable ; a more advantageous locality was 

 therefore sought for ; the banks of the river were examined, and 

 other springs found in more favoured situations, possessing more- 

 over in addition to superiorly of position, the no less important 

 advantage of greater concentration. From the date of that disco- 

 very the salt manufacture in Nantwich steadily declined, although 

 the inhabitants still repaired annually on Ascension day to the 

 " Old Biat," their most ancient salt- pit, and adorning it with flow- 



* Lyson's Magna Britannia, Vol. II, part II, p. 408, (1810). 

 t Ibid, pp. 408 409. 



Vol. xx o. s. Vol. iv n. s. 



