Lion Salt Works
About This Museum
Tucked away in the Cheshire countryside, the Lion Salt Works is a survivor. For over a century, this was a bustling, steam-filled factory where men famously 'boiled the brine' to produce pure white salt. Today, it stands as Britain's last open-pan salt works, not as a ruin but as a meticulously restored time capsule. Walking through the site feels like the workers have just clocked out for the day.
Collection Highlights
You can't miss the vast, riveted iron pans where salt crystals slowly formed, or peer into the deep red brine tank that fed them. Interactive displays let you try your hand at loading a 'lump barrow', while personal stories from former salt makers give the machinery a real human heartbeat.
Visitor Information
It's an easy drive from Northwich or a pleasant stop if you're exploring rural Cheshire. Check their website for seasonal opening times and special events—they sometimes fire up the original steam engine, which is quite a sight.
Architecture & Building
The buildings are purely functional Victorian industrial vernacular: red brick and timber structures with tall chimneys and corrugated iron roofs, all arranged around the central yard where raw materials were hauled in and finished salt was shipped out.
Contact & Location
Address: Lion Salt Works, Ollershaw Lane, Marston, Upper Marston, Cheshire West and Chester, England, CW9 6ES, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1606 275066
Website: Visit Website
