April — sept. 1858.] Brine-springs of Cheshire. 107 



The salt which is now produced in Cheshire is made, I under- 

 stand, exclusively from natural brine-springs ; but it has formerly 

 at various times been obtained by dissolving rock-salt in water and 

 evaporating the clear solution. The principal varieties manufac- 

 tured are three : the salt of coarsest grain, or bay-salt ; that of the 

 finest grain, to which the name of table-salt is applied ; and an 

 intermediate variety, which is called common salt. The latter is 

 made in the largest quantity, and forms the principal part of the 

 vast export of Cheshire. More than three-fourths of the total 

 amount of salt produced is used for foreign consumption ; and of 

 the remaining fourth, a considerable portion is employed in the 

 supply of the British fisheries. It has, however, only attained its 

 reputation after a somewhat severe struggle with foreign competi- 

 tors ; for in the year 1810, Mr. Henry* found it necessary to set 

 forth an apology for British salt as an agent in curing provisions 

 in no way inferior to that prepared from sea-water by evaporation 

 on the shores of the Mediterranean, and to deprecate the folly of 

 Great Britain in expending large sums of money in the purchase 

 of an article, which she possessed the means, beyond almost any 

 other country in Europe, — drawing from her most internal re- 

 sources. Fortunately these remonstrances were not addressed in 

 vain, and this country soon ceased to neglect her native produce, 

 and to import that from abroad which she had in such abundance 

 and of such excellent quality at home. 



The great means however, of extending the salt trade in this 

 country, has been the gradual improvement in the mode of raising 

 and evaporating the brine. Originally, in the early days of 

 the manufacture, the method of obtaining salt from the brine 

 by evaporation was unknown ; and its preparation consisted 

 only in pouring the brine upon burning branches of oak and 

 hazel, from the ashes of which the deposited salt was afterwards 

 collected. At length, however, the plan of evaporation was devis- 

 ed ; but for a long time wood was the only fuel, of which such 

 immense quantities were consumed at the salt-works in Droitwich 

 in the time of Camden, that he represents Feckenham Forest and 



* Phil, Trans. Royal Soc, 1810, p. 89. 



