The Salt Museum is located in a Grade II listed workhouse in the city of Northwich, Cheshire, England.
The Salt Museum was established by Thomas Ward and John Brunner, two salt possessors who wanted to give Northwich something that would represent it as the “salt capital of the world”.
In 1899 people of the Northwich had a chance to enjoy the new Salt Museum as well as a Library, both donated by the owners. At first the Salt Museum shared a building with the library but during the 1970s it was moved into the Weaver Hall building which was built as Northwich Union workhouse.
The workhouse, designed by George Latham, was found in 1839 and later became an old people’s home. The institution existed until 1964. Since then Weaver Hall has been completely restored and opened as the new Salt Museum in 1981. All of the displays at the museum have grown, to include social history and archaeological items, giving a whole new look at the progress of the salt industry.
The ground floor of the Salt Museum is full of various exhibitions that represented the history of the building as the Northwich Union workhouse. On its upper floor is the Salt of the Earth Gallery where the displays show the life of mid-Cheshire people. There is a special gallery that explores the story of people who lived and worked as salt and coal transporters near to the River Weaver.
The “Made from Salt gallery” is a place where people are able to see some of the most interesting uses of salt such as the discovery of Polythene in 1933 and the dry out of Egyptian mummies. Three other galleries at the museum are related to the way salt has been produced in the city for more than 2,000 years.
Some of the greatest exhibitions at the Salt Museum are: The Viking Hoard Exhibition, the Jumelage/Amitie (Twinning&Friendship) Exhibition, the Art by Chips-21st century Photography Exhibition, the Above the Clouds-Mallory Exhibition, the Irvine and the Quest for Everest Exhibition as well as the Northwich Shops Exhibition.
The Salt Museum has a really great photographic collection, containing over 5,000 images of local people, scenes that represented the salt industry and the subsidence in Northwich.
The Salt Museum hosts a number of special events every year that are inspiring to visit: including exhibition programmes, seasonal themes or important national events. There will be some upcoming events such as the Tudor Christmas, the Christmas in the Workhouse and the Experience Medieval Life event, so keep an eye out for when these great events are on show.
The Museum has excellent facilities such as a gift shop with a large collection of books and nice gifts, a coffee shop and a free parking plus full disabled access.
Visiting Northwich Salt Museum – Opening Times and Admission Prices
Address
Salt Museum Cheshire
162 London Rd
Northwich
Cheshire
CW9 8AB
Tel: 01606 271640
Opening Times
The Salt Museum is open from 10am to 5pm from Tuesday to Friday and from 2pm to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Ticket Prices
Adult: £2.50
Child £1.30
Concession £2.00
Family (2 adults and 2 children) £6.00
Pre-booked group £2.00 per person
If you are a particular fan of the Northwich Salt Museum you can purchase a season ticket which allows you to visit as many times as you like within the twelve months. Find details here
Events at the Northwich Salt Museum for Autumn/Winter 2009
24th September 2009 – evening event – A Poor Man’s Heritage
24th September 2009 – Regalette Film Event – The Grocer’s Son (15) – 7pm
30 September 2009 – Mallory & Irvine, Cheshire’s Mountaineers
20th October 2009 – evening event – Friend’s AGM, followed by Mallory, Irvine and Everest
28 October 2009 – Cheshire’s Hillforts Project, presented by archaeologist Dan Garner
28th and 29th October 2009 – Soul Caking Characters – Clay Character Making Workshops
29th October 2009 – Regalette Film Event – Blindsight – 2pm
29th October 2009 – Regalette Film Event – North Face (12) – 7pm
25 November 2009 – A Tudor Christmas, presented by Tom Hughes
9th December 2009 – evening event – Christmas Social Evening
Related Blog Posts:
Northwich Memories – Northwich Through Time – Chester Chronicle
New Mallory and Irvine Exhibitions at Northwich Salt Museum – BMC
The Odyssey 2009 – Day 46 – Indigo Dreaming
Above Clouds – Mallory, Irvine and the Quest for Everest -Mount Everest -British Story
You may also be interested in:
Museums in Chester and Cheshire
Museums in Liverpool and Merseyside
Museums in York and North Yorkshire
Museums in Leeds and West Yorkshire
Museums in Newcastle upon Tyne and Tyne and Wear
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