The Saltscape project is set to ‘highlight the unique character of the Weaver Valley’s salt-making landscape’.

The area covered by the project stretches from Middlewich to Frodsham and looks at the development of the surrounding landscape that has been modified through Industry.

The River Weaver and Trent & Mersey Canal, the highways of the past, were littered with Salt Works and associated trades. Trading routes were key to the success of inland salt-working sites in Cheshire, therefore not only did the landscape change through the industries but natural watercourses were also changed and engineered with spectacular results.

Today we have remarkable and unique heritage sites within the valley, as well as remnants of a once illustrious past and flora and fauna more reminiscing of a coastal habitat.

Outcomes for the Saltscape Project are therefore very diverse. With regards to Middlewich our intention is to restore the Three Locks area, improve access to our heritage assets and improve visitor interpretation of our stretch of the Trent and Mersey. We will link into the other heritage sites through the Valley to tell the wider story of the Cheshire Canal, River and Salt industries.

Middlewich will also take part in community & school workshops, as well as events held throughout the three year Saltscape Project.

For more information on the Project including aims and objectives, timeframes and updates please go to the webpage currently on http://www.weavervalley.org.uk

PROJECT UPDATE

26^th January 2013

The Inland Waterways Association (Chester and District Branch) is pleased to advise that the official unveiling of the ‘Maureen Shaw Panel’ will take place on Saturday 23^rd March at 2.00 pm at the Wardle Lock, Middlewich and we would like to invite friends of Maureen to attend.  Many boaters who have passed through Wardle Lock will have fond memories of Maureen acting as unofficial lock keeper. She was always willing to help you through but woe betide anyone who ‘abused her lock’!

Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton, who is the current holder of IWA’s ‘Parliamentarian of the Year’ award for her work in supporting the waterways will be in attendance and Sharron Underwood, Maureen’s daughter, is flying in from Thailand to do the actual unveiling.

We hope to have tea and light refreshments available.

This will not be a day for grieving but to celebrate the working boat people and their lives and particularly Maureen’s. Therefore, anyone coming in ’working boat’ dress would add to the occasion. 

Please make a note of the date and we look forward to seeing you if you can make it. 

Peter Bolt

Peter Bolt

IWA Chester and District Branch

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This beautiful ring may have been made between 1658 – 1669 and would have been worked on by a very fine craftsman. It’s not your average gold ring!

Further research will be done to try and find out as much as possible about the ring and circumstances surrounding it. In the meantime, the ring has been classed as Treasure and therefore comes under the Treasure Act 1996. It has been valued at £1,900 and is currently in the care of the British Museum. Middlewich Town Council has been given a chance to secure the ring for display in our community if we can raise the money by the end of April 2013.

The Heritage Development Officer is urgently looking to raise funds but seeks the public's help in raising donation money. It's a fantastic opportunity to have this item to show to the community, it represents a difficult period in the lives of Middlewich people but also the status of the landowners.

If Middlewich Town Council cannot raise £1,900 then the ring will go on general sale and we will lose it. To pledge money simply email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , stating your full name, address and contact phone number with how much you want to pledge. We will not take any payment until the pledges reach the target, if we are successful we will contact you and organise payment, if we do not reach the target then no monies will be taken.

To read more about this ring and why it is so important click here.

This video produced with the help of Middlewich High School highlights the appeal for funding:

‘Your Heritage’  Photographic Competition

Supported by Jugglers and Middlewich Town Council

The environment in which we live and work in has been shaped by our ancestors for thousands of years. Cheshire is a landscape steeped in history; it has been an industrial and agricultural land with established route-ways dating back to the Iron Age and engineered waterways from the Industrial Revolution. Each part of Cheshire is distinctive and unique.

Brief: To capture an image of Cheshire, exploring the landscape both natural & worked and historic built environment. We also have a ‘general’ category that will allow more scope in terms of having a prize winning photograph that does not fit into an existing category.

This exciting opportunity exists for young budding photographers, enthusiastic amateurs and semi– professional photographers to take part in the Annual ‘Your Heritage’ exhibition. All Photographic entries received will be displayed at the Folk and Boat Festival on 15th and 16th June 2013.

Exploring the past can often be the key to the future.

The deadline for entries through the post and receiving day for those who want to hand deliver their pictures is Friday 7^th June 2013, 9am – 6pm, Room 5, Victoria Building, Lewin St, Middlewich, CW10 9AS. Telephone: 01606 841379 or email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Full details and an entry form can be found here

Nearly three months excavating the site on Jersey Way has produced some very exciting finds that are still being evaluated, however there's now enough known to release some details and photographs.

Ian Miller of OEN has said, "Our current thoughts are that the site was first occupied during the middle of the first century - we don't have any firm evidence for any Iron Age activity on the site, although this could come to light during the post-excavation process when we've had a proper look at all the pottery and have carried out some radio-carbon dating."

The site has produced interesting finds from the Roman period, including timber-lined wells or brine springs and brine storage tanks. A lot of pottery was found suggesting there had domestic activity at part of site.

Click here to find out more about this initial release of information

Details & entry forms for this year's 'Your Heritage' photographic competition are now available in the Events/Calendar section or you can just click here.