Restoring the Lion Salt Works

Anticipated Start

2011-08-26T10:26:00.003+01:00

Work on the restoration of the Lion Salt Works might start in November, 2011.
Visit the new web site set up by Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Lion Salt Works web site.
A new site is being set up for the Lion Salt Works Trust also. The Trust has now handed back its lease on the site to the Council.
Lion Salt Works Trust web site.

New web link at CW&C

2011-02-23T11:10:00.000Z

The former Salt Museum is now rebranded as the Weaver Hall Museum.
A link to a page about the Lion Salt Works Project is -
www.fowhm.org.uk/the-lion-salt-works/
The Lion Salt Works Trust is expected to revamp its web site to reflect their current role in the project.

Winter Snow Jan 2010

2010-01-14T18:27:00.004Z

Pictures of Lion Salt Works in the snow, which has been here since 5th January. Awaiting the thaw so that we can plant the bluebells and daffodil bulbs donated to us by The Mersey Forest team.

Hedging and Trees in the Butterfly Garden

2009-12-02T13:32:00.007Z

The first trees and hedging are being planted in the Butterfly Garden.

This project is funded by INEOS Enterprises through the UK Government's Landfill Communities Fund (previously known as the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme). The grant is administered by The Mersey Forest.
http://www.ineoschlor.com/socialresponsibility/landfill.shtml

40 hedging plants have been provide through The Mersey Forest from FOUNDATION a climate fund for the Northwest.

The main buddlea plants will be planted in the spring with the ground cover plants also favourites with butterflies and moths.

These shubs and taller trees will provide the architecture and colour in the winter.

New Gates for Lion Salt Works

2009-11-17T14:46:00.003Z

The final piece of painting to our front gates was completed this lunchtime, with the Lion Salt Works lettering being picked out in white.

Lionel Visits End of Enabling Works

2009-11-16T21:03:00.004Z

Lionel was on holiday last week so has only just been able to upload his visit to the Lion Salt Works to meet the William Anelay's team on 5th November before they left site.
He was able to pose for pictures and walk around the site and see how it has changed over the previous 15 weeks.
Some before and after views will be posted in the next few days.
Cheshire West and Chester Council will hold meeting at the end of November to establish how the project to restore the whole site will be taken forward.

WEEK 15 - Day 59 End of Enabling Works

2009-11-05T12:16:00.005Z

Today is the last main work day of the Enabling Works. We still have a few tidying up jobs to complete, but William Anelays Ltd will hand back the site to Cheshire West and Chester Council on Monday 9 November 2009.
Lionel is on holiday from today but will post updates on his return. In particular look out for the new entrance gates.
Many thanks to all our contractors and sub-contractors for helping the work programme be completed. It was a daunting task but has been completed with grateful thanks and appreciation. Lionel would also like to extend a special thank you to Site Manager, David Marsh who kept everything running smoothly, on time and with great humour and dedication to achieving a first rate job. A full list of all who participated in these Enabling Works will be posted later.
Thank you.
Despite the rain on this morning we got a great send off with a rainbow over the Brine Tank. We all look forward to starting Phase 2 - the full restoration works - in 2010.

WEEK 15 - Day 58 Views from the Garden

2009-11-04T15:47:00.009Z

Most of the contractor's work today has been all about moving plant and machinery off site. This extended into the early evening dusk now that the hour has changed as we move from summer time to winter. We also made further preparations for the erection of our entrance gates. Meanwhile Sue, Isabel and Tim have been continuing the preparations for our Butterfly Garden, which helps us look forward to next spring when the main garden planting will take place - and we hope to be able to make a firm announcement about the timetable for the full restoration works.

The garden will feature buddlias in partnership with George Martin and Butterfly Conservation-Peaks and Plains.

The design is by Sue Beesley and Isabel Brooke with help from Tim

Links : - http://www.lodgelanenursery.co.uk/

The garden is funded through a Landfil Grant donated by ineos-Chlor and administered by the Mersey Forest.

WEEK15 - Day 57 Final Preparations

2009-11-03T21:42:00.009Z

As our Enabling Works draw to and end we received fresh deliveries for our Butterfly Garden this morning. 15 tons of soil improver were tipped at the entrance to the emerging garden. Sue Beesley and Isobel Brooke will distribute this through the flower beds tomorrow and make preparations to spread the top surface gravel onto the paths.

More details on the garden in tomorrow's posting.

The racking in our timber store has been filled with timbers from the dismantled Stove House 5. It is also holding our new front gates over night as the post holes are prepared for the concrete supports.
The framework to attach the wrapping sheets are almost completed. The green material gives the interior an unusual, and artistic light.

WEEK 15 - Day 56 Painting, Wrapping, a Delivery and a Visit

2009-11-02T20:36:00.011Z

Our warm and dry autumn weather broke over the weekend with heavy rain, cooler air and strong wind. To give the salt pan time to be cleaned down and dried off the painters from George Boocock Decorators Ltd moved from painting Pan 5 to painting our new fence.
All the leaves from our mountain ash trees were stripped off leaving only a few berries for the starlings.

Phil and Simon carried on constructing frames to attach sheeting to in order to keep out the worst of the winter weather. Much to our surprise the new delivery of sheeting material (which comes from Sweden!) is green and not clear. even though the supplier states that it is the same as the first delivery!

Manufactured in Manchester our new steel gates have started to be delivered for installation later in the week.
They will be painted black after they have been set in new concrete bases.

The work to install them wil feature during the rest of the week.

Henry Thompson dropped in at lunchtime to look at the progress since his last visit. He was taken through the warehouse floors on the new scaffold access platforms. It is some years since he last stood in front of the crushing mill located in Warehouse 4. Henry dismantled this mill from its earlier location in Warehouse 2.
He brought with him a faded black and white photograph of himself standing in front of Stove House 5 during its construction. Henry is shown standing in front of the roofing boards which are stacked ready for nailing in place on the roof. Click on the images to enlarge them.

WEEK 14 - Day 55 Dismantling West Gable & Final Work to Stove House 5

2009-10-29T19:20:00.009Z

The unsafe sections of the west gable of Stove house 1 were dismantled today. The area will be protected by sheeting over the winter.

The curved section of wall may incorporate the original garden wall of the entrance to the Red Lion Hotel, after which the salt works was named can be seen more clearly now. At this height the wall curves and has a sleight batter as it rises from the road level. it is also one and a half bricks wide.

The final remnants of Stove House 5 were removed from site this afternoon, all the parts not being saved for reuse that is.

There will be some before-and-after photographs posted next week to show how the site has changed over the last fourteen weeks.

WEEK 14 - Day 54 More Cleaning, Digging and Dismantling

2009-10-28T15:40:00.006Z

Having drafted in a hydraulic pick the base of Pan House 5 finally gave in and was broken up ready for removal. The last lorry movements carrying the debris will leave for the landfill site tomorrow.

The gable of Warehouse 1 is now being carefully dismantled with each section of brick being stored on separate pallets. The wall has been repaired over many years - it was part of the original works dating to 1894 but has been rebuilt and a loading doorway bricked up. Each part of its history can be read by looking carefully at the different bricks and mortar sections. The inner and outer bricks from each phase are being stacked separately so that they can be rebuilt in the full restoration phase later next year.

As the salt works expanded Henry Ingram Thompson constructed a new Pan House and Stove House along the edge of Ollershaw Lane, joining it to the earlier warehouse by cutting out a section of the roof on the south side. This image is taken from within the much larger Warehouse 3, looking north to the roof structure of Warehouse 1. The gable being dismantled is to the left, fronting Ollershaw Lane.

Further shot blasting to clean the salt pan removed from Pan House 5 took place using recycled glass pellets, so that it can be painted. The weather is fantastic with warm autumn sunshine, excellent for getting all these final jobs completed.
A careful evaluation of the whole site was also undertaken today to identify any further pockets of contamination that might still be on site.

WEEK 14 - Day 53 Fencing and Wrapping

2009-10-27T10:19:00.008Z

Preparations were made today for the new gates at the entrance to the salt works. A new wooden fence was installed between our entrance and our neighbours and the vegetation was cut back to help with the installation of the gates, which will be erected next Monday. The fence butts up to the Smithy building, where the salt pans, salt tools and salt boxes were made and repaired. The new fence will be shown next week.

External elevations were wrapped to help protect them over the winter from wind and rain. This the east elevation of Pan House 4.

Electric chipping hammers are having a hard time breaking up hard, dried salt deposits within the stove area of Stove House 1.

The base of Pan House 5 is also defying demolition. A third, larger machine was beaten into submission this afternoon - look out for how its special attachment copes tomorrow !!

WEEK 14 - Day 52 Painting Salt Pan 5 Starts

2009-10-26T20:01:00.004Z

Today the protective paint was started to be applied to the cleaned salt pan removed from Pan House 5.
This is the undercoat after which two top coats of a zinc paint will be applied.

You can see that the side end plate at the stove end of the pan dates to its earliest phase when the plates were still being riveted to the angle iron which attaches the side plates to the bottom plates (left). The images upper right shows that the side plates are welded

The lifting rings, which enabled the pan to be lifted using a jigger arm are also welded to the side of the pan. The detail (bottom right) shows the rivets joining the end plates, again at the stove end of the salt pan.

WEEK 13 - Day 51 Clearing Salt, Stove House 5 and Laying Paths

2009-10-22T22:07:00.005+01:00

Salt can set like concrete once it gets into the fabric of a building and is baked hot and stays dry.
Within stove Hose 1 we had to chip out the remaining salt with a percussion hammer.
The flue walls in this area have been robbed out many years ago but the remains of the walls indicate the layout of the flues and ditches which ducted the hot fumes from the Pan House to the chimney built on Ollershaw Lane.

Meanwhile the big digger spent a fourth day removing the ash, cinders and flue walls from the dismantled Stove House 5.
Over 100 tons of material has been removed from site. The materials which made up the infill of the stove house were themselves waste products of the Lion Salt Works. Henry Thompson used waste cinders deposited at the south side of the site that were raked from the earlier pan houses over decades of salt making.

Alongside all the dismantling and removal of contaminants we are also being constructive and looking to the future. Sue Beesley and Isabel Brookes have begun the creative landscaping that will transform the south west corner of our salt works into a tranquil butterfly garden in partnership with George Martin and the Butterfly Conservation gardening volunteers.

WEEK 13 - Day 50 Dismantling Stove 5

2009-10-21T20:39:00.005+01:00

Work continued to dismantle Stove 5. In total 600 tons of ash, cinders and bricks have been removed since Monday. The position of the outer North wall is shown by the far left ranging rod.

WEEK 13 - Day 49 Cleaning Pan 5 and Starting Butterfly Garden

2009-10-20T12:05:00.005+01:00

The clearance of the ash and cinders from Stove House 5 continued. There should be 18 lorry loads removed over the day, each carrying an average of 17 tons a trip. Salt also continued to be removed from Stove 1.

Two new activities started today. Cleaning of the salt pan moved from Pan House 5 started with a manual knocking of of surface debris. Apologies are due to all our neighbours for the resulting banging and hammering. this must have been what it was like when the salt pans were in use. The traditional practice was to 'pick' a salt pan pm a Monday morning to remove build up of pan scale and salt from the previous weeks salt making, so that fresh brine start to be heated for the new week.

The underside of the pan shows many original rivetted plates which have had new plates welded over the top. It has a patchwork appearance of overlying metal plates.

In the south west corner a cotter pin and patch was still in place. Phil was able to gentle tap the wedge out and take the drain patch apart.

We also began laying the paths for a recreational area to the south west of the site, which will be planted as a buddlea garden. This is funded by a landfill grant contribution made by Ineos Chlor via the Mersey Forest team. The paths are being edged today and will have hardcore laid over a membrane tomorrow.

WEEK 13 - Day 48 Stove House 1 and Stove House 5

2009-10-19T13:42:00.011+01:00

Activities today involve dismantling three areas - the gable of Warehouse 1, salt from within Stove 1 and the stove area of Stove House 5.

To carry out the work safely external cladding has been erected along the side of the building.

Portable conveyor belting was installed to easy the manual handling of the salt debris from the stove area.

You can now really see that the stove area ran off from the Pan House at the first floor level. The machine tearing up the ash and cinders is really working hard because salt and brine has soaked into the fabric of the brickwork and the cinder base, setting like concrete in the high heat of the salt making process.

WEEK 12 - Day 47 West Gable Stove House 1

2009-10-15T19:40:00.007+01:00

The west gable of Stove House 1 fronts Ollershaw Lane. The different types of bricks show the endless repairs that has been necessary to this gable since it was built in 1894.

The south side (right) is a curved wall at its base which was built on the line of a garden wall which led into the Red Lion Hotel, after which the salt works was named. Salt Pan 1,which was to the left, was built in the coal yard of the Red Lion Hotel, between the Hotel and the Trent and Mersey Canal. The window at road level provided light into the stove area. The doorway was used to wheel salt from the warehouse floor to the Salt Store on the opposite side of Ollershaw Lane.

Ollershaw Lane becomes narrow here as it approaches the hump backed bridge over the canal, and there are no footpaths at the side of the road.

To provide safe access for the erection of a scaffold 'stop - go' boards had to be used to control the flow of traffic past the stove house.

The scaffolding will allow safe working as the brickwork is dismantled. Each rebuilding phase will be taken down in sequence and stored on separate pallets for re-use when this part is rebuilt.

A metal hoarding will be erected on the scaffold to keep the site safe and secure.

WEEK 12 - Day 46 Dismantling Furnace to Pan 5

2009-10-14T15:41:00.004+01:00

This is getting to look like an archaeological site. With most of the superstructure dismantled we can see the flues underneath the salt pan.

The first photograph is looking east from the Stove house end looking towards the furnace front, but from the interior. The collapsed brick flue walls have been cleared to show the flue walls where they are infilled with flue ash, sand and cinder deposits. This a deliberate part of the construction to reduce the amount of bricks used in the furnace.The were four firing positions, with two 'dead-draft' flues along the outer walls to prevent the salt crystals from burning on the bottom of the pan as the crystals were drawn to the side. At the end of the pan (bottom of picture) the flue arrangement changes as the flue gasses were ducted underneath a walkway between the end of the pan and the front wall of the Stove House. The flue chamber is the wider infilled channel, with an ash filled space between each flue.

This second picture of Pan 5 furnace is taken looking west from the front of the furnace looking towards the Stove House 5. There is a clearer space within the flue at the fire end. Pan 5 was originally fired with coal or coke and later altered to burn recycled oil.

WEEK 12 - Day 45 Lifting Pan No5

2009-10-13T14:50:00.008+01:00

Today we lifted the pan from off its firebox. For a video of the lift link to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NG2XzYito4

and http://www.youtube.com/user/Saltteller#p/a/u/0/1CDa6xhk58Y

WEEK 12 - Day 44 Preparations for Lifting Pan 5

2009-10-12T06:37:00.006+01:00

Whilst also continuing to dismantle the brickwork of Stove House 5 final preparations were made to lift the salt pan No.5 off the furnace. Packing wedges were inserted between the iron beams and the underside of the salt pan so that the weight of the pan is evenly distributed and there are no unsupported areas. Paul and Simon spent a couple of hours in the cramped space underneath the pan inserting the wedges. Like many salt pans the sustained heating the brine over a long period of time causes the iron plates of the pan to distort and buckle making each position an individual fit. You can see the rows of rivets which join each of the pan plates.

Lifting eyes have been attached to the ends of the main beams. It is to these that the hooks will be attached to the crane's lifting chains tomorrow. The crane is arriving at 8am with the lift taking place about 10.30am. The operation will be uploaded tomorrow afternoon.

See uploaded time lapse video, which shows the dismantling of the roof trusses of Stove House 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW4g1xKlfmQ This took place on Thursday 16 September, 2009 and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 2--23 September, 2009.

WEEK 11 - Day 43 Salt Pan 5, Laserscan and Pan House-Warehouse 4

2009-10-08T21:42:00.012+01:00

The team is rapidly dismantling the Stove House 5 and preparing to lift the salt pan off the furnace so that it can be shot blasted and given a protective paint. H&E Scaffolding are now taking down scaffolding and removing it from site, so we can really see that the contract is getting close to completion.

A magnetic drill was used to drill the holes in the lifting beams below Pan 5. This type of drill clamps itself to the iron beam by an induction magnet so that the steel can be drilled. Galvanised bolts were then tightened to clamp the two girders together. Wooden packing pieces will be inserted between the girders and the underside of the pan in preparation for lifting the pan off the furnace base on Tuesday, next week.

APR services returned today to fill in gaps in the laser scan survey. Parts of the stove house areas of Stove House 1 and Stove House 2 were inaccessible when the main scan was carried out earlier in the work programme.

Decayed floor beams, and the collapsed roof structures which had fallen on top of it have now been removed and props inserted below the floor beams. This is one of the older areas of the Lion Salt Works dating to about 1894.
Walkways (left) have been inserted from the Loading Bay / Packing Area to provide safe access for the architects and engineers to prepare the Phase 2 schedule of works and cost plan, prior to going out to tender for the main restoration work.
Moving south from the Packing Area you move into Warehouse 4 which has a huge crushing mill (right) used to convert dried blocks of salt back to loose crystal salt and pack them into sacks.

Moving past the crushing mill to the south end of Warehouse 4 (left) you can see that this warehouse is unusual in having an iron frame. The floor has the same hatches used to 'loft' salt from Stove 4 on the floor below. From the end of this warehouse you can look down into Pan 4 (right). Pan House 4 was built by Alan Thompson.

WEEK 11 - Day 42 Preparing Pan 5 for Lifting and Warehouse 1

2009-10-07T12:11:00.010+01:00

All the steel girders were inserted beneath Pan 5 by mid morning today. These now need to have packing inserted between the top of the girders and the underside of the pan so that the pan is fully supported when it is lifted and moved.

The lifting beams will be bolted together tomorrow ready for the lift to take place early next week.

Preparatory work was completed for a final piece of laser scanning to capture data within the drying area of the earliest building on site. This is the remains of Warehouse and Stove House 1, built in the 1890's but heavily altered as other salt houses were added. The structure was heavily cut away as Stove House 2 and 3 were added to its north and south elevations.
The brick flues have been robbed out, cast iron column which should support the floor above have been lost, corroded away or have collapsed and half the roof had fallen in allowing the weather to decay a lot of the floor boards. having said all that the roof trusses are in good condition and can be incorporated into the restoration works of Phase 2. This area gives you that 'stepping back in time' feeling as you absorb the atmosphere of standing inside a Victorian salt works, and you can see how the stove house we are currently dismantling has been built in the same traditional way, to the same design - to do the same job of evaporating brine and making white salt crystals.

Some of the trusses have carpenters marks. This one is numbered 'I I' for the second truss - but is in the middle of the roof structure. So, either the frames were put up out of sequence, or the frames might have been recycled from an earlier building. Other trusses are numbered 'V' and IV'. Where a brace has been

inserted a small cross '+' has been cut unto the upright beam to indicate where it was to be positioned.

The end gable, which will be dismantled as part of our Enabling Works, has remains of lime wash on the inner surface. All the brickwork and timbers were lime washed to protect them from the salt and stop loose flakes of brick or timber from contaminating the stock piles.

Ironwork has not survived well, particularly in areas which have been damp, or wet from ingress of rain. However in this area one hatch cover still survives with its original iron ring.

WEEK 11 - Day 41 Inserting Lifting Beams Below Pan 5

2009-10-06T16:20:00.007+01:00

The end girders were introduced below the east and west ends of Salt Pan 5 this morning. These rest on the two lifting girders put in place on the north and south sides of the pan yesterday.

These cross beams will support each end of the pan and stop it collapsing as the internal flue walls are taken so that the other steel beams can be inserted to spread the weight.

Today was the first wet day for weeks and added to the difficulty of inserting the beams.

WEEK 11 - Day 40 Preparing Pan 5 and Recording Stove 5 Flues

2009-10-05T21:32:00.010+01:00

The two long 'I' beams were installed today along the north and south sides of the salt pan No.5. Each beam weighs one ton. Five lighter 'I' beams will be inserted underneath the pan and will be clamped to each of these lifting beams. The pan base is buckled through use and will have packing pieces inserted between the steels and the under surface so that the weight is carried evenly. Only when we are sure the pan can be carried safely will it be lifted. This might be later this week, or early next week, so keep logging on to see developments.

With the east gable dismantled and the brick wall removed from below it we can see how the stove area is constructed. Hot gases from below the salt pan are drawn along flues within the Stove House to dry the salt. The lower part of the flue is set within ash and cinders, lined with brick but due to the heat and fumes the bricks are very badly corroded and decayed. Many bricks have turned to powder, some are heavily impregnated with white salt crystals. The flues are carried above the ash and cinders with brick upstands to create 'ditches' between the flues. There has been a build up of salt within the ditches which is over 20 centimeters thick.
A bag wall slows the passage of gases as they pass from the the pan house into the flue system. There is a thick layer of fly ash throughout the whole structure.
Metal plates sit over the flues so that salt blocks can be placed directly over them. These metal plates have corroded heavily after twenty years in a now cold, damp unheated building covered in salt.

The inner surface of the flues have suffered the most and with e mortar having broken down many walls have simply collapsed into the ditches and flues.

Most of the dismantled timbers have now been assigned racking space within the timber store and are being graded for condition and re-use when the structure is rebuilt. Some pencil marks were seen when the trusses were dismantled, but today we found some carpenters marks cut into a beam which had been re-used as a supporting joist within the Loading Bay. There are carpenters marks in other re-used timbers in Stove House 3.

WEEK 10 - Day 39 Dismantling Brickwork

2009-10-01T13:18:00.008+01:00

The east gable brick work is being taken down today. This supported the east gable timber framing which was removed earlier in the programme. This wall is three bricks thick, unlike the other three walls which are only two bricks thick. Also the mortar comprises a hard concrete mix, so it is taking longer to remove.
Another sunny day, after a cloudy start. Excellent for getting on with the work in hand.

The removal of the wall provides easier and safer access to work around the salt pan and to have easier access inside the remains of the stove house. The interior is really poor condition, mostly the depredation has been caused by vandalism by intruders over the years in which the site was abandoned.
Four scaffold towers are being constructed at the east end of the salt pan. These will hold the pan temporarily whilst it is shot blasted and painted.
During next week steel girders, delivered yesterday will be inserted under the pan and the whole structure will be lifted and turned through 90 degrees.
The remains of the furnace will be dismantled and recorded before the pan can be returned to its original location, but replaced at ground level.

WEEK 10 - Day 38 Removing Floorboards and Steel Delivery

2009-09-30T15:52:00.011+01:00

The whole of the warehouse floor of Stove House 5 was removed today, allowing us to prepare to take away the floor joists and the the side walls.

The dismantling of the walls will begin with the east gable so that the scaffold team from H&E Scaffolding, Telford can insert lifting girders beneath the salt pan.

The floorboards rest on a timber beam laid over the joists, which are in fact second hand railway lines.

The floor boards have been affected by the process of drying the salt. The upper surface is very smooth, but the lower surface has had fibres drawn from the cell walls of the wood by the damp heat trapped between the floors as the salt dried over the flues.

The steel beams weigh almost 4 tons and were delivered from the Corus steel works at Scunthorpe.

They have been laid out alongside the salt pan ready to be inserted underneath for lifting the pan.
Following the lift next week the iron pan will be cleaned and prepared for a protective coat of paint.

Asbestos roof sheets were removed from above Warehouse and Stove areas 1 and 3. Stove 1 is the oldest part of the Lion Salt Works and has some difficult structural areas because it has been adapted and altered gretaly over its life. A scaffold walkway is being inserted and additional props to support the floor and roof areas.

Video for work completed on Day 21 to dismantle roof trusses has now been posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nizNmZ6RWA

WEEK 10 - Day 37 Dismantling Floorboards of Stove House 5

2009-09-29T21:07:00.005+01:00

Work started today to dismantle the floorboards of Stove House 5. The boards are being lifted for replacement whn the building is rebuilt on new foundations in Phase 2. Following the removal of the boards the floor joists will be taken out and the outer walls will then be taken down brick by brick. There are over 400 boards to lift before lunchtime tomorrow.

Also posted today a movie prepared by APR Services to show the coverage obtained during their laserscan survey of the Stove House areas of SH 2,3, 4 and 5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmRBwrhPs30 m/watch?v=bmRBwrhPs30

The NW Industrial Archaeology Panel held their meeting at the Lion Salt Works today. Left to right: Ian Miller, Oxford Archaeology North; Julian Baum, Take 27; Mike Nevell, Salford University; PaulineWeb, Museum of Science & Industry Manchester; David George

WEEK 10 - Day 36 Walls of SH5 Removed to Warehouse Floor Level

2009-09-28T08:34:00.006+01:00

With the roof trusses removed work on Stove House 5 continues to dismantle and remove the brick works. First this is being taken down to the warehouse floor level so that the floor boards can be removed.

A timelapse sequence was posted today of the removal of the asbestos roof sheets and timber boarding of Stove House 5.

Visit it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIMyJrvP4EM . A sequence showing the dismantling of the roof trusses will follow.

WEEK 9 - Day 35 Removing Scaffolding, Racking and Other Works

2009-09-24T20:25:00.006+01:00

Having removed the last roof trusses all the scaffolding erected inside the roof space can now be taken down. On Monday all the scaffold tubes above the warehouse floor will have been removed. The tubes and boards will now be used to build walkways and props within the main core of the salt works.
Looking from the north east the main salt works buildings can be seen through the scaffold tubes. The hatches allowing salt blocks to be 'lofted from the stove (hothouse or 'otters'- see below)' to the warehouse floor are covered with plyboard to avoid anyone falling though. The floorboards of the warehouse floor will be removed next week when we can show you the detailed construction of the flues within the stove area.

The scaffold racking is now being built to store the truss elements, roof boards and other structural pieces. As each timber is put into storage a condition report is made grading it with a recommendation as to whether it is OK to be re-used, if it needs a repair or if it should be used as a pattern for a new piece to be made.

Within the main complex 110volt festoon lighting allows the other stove ('otters') areas to be cleared of debris and supports to be inserted to the warehouse floor above. Compare these areas with the dismantled section of Stove House 5 over the coming weeks.
The Enabling Works will allow safe access to the architects to inspect these parts of the salt works so that we can prepare a schedule of works and go out to tender for repairs to costed in Phase 2. The Stove House has flues and ditches where the salt blocks were dried.
Within these areas the decades of salt build up in the ditches and ash in the flues will be cleaned out. The condition of the cast iron columns, which have deteriorated in the salt are of particular interest to the overall stability of the buildings.
A video has been placed on the Cheshire Museums YouTube channel where the timelapse camera installation can be seen. click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt9TkGwrohY . This is continuing to record work to dismantle Stove House 5 and will form a special video compressing the work ove the past weeks to a few minutes.

WEEK 9 - Day 34 Last Roof Truss of SH5 Dismantled

2009-09-23T08:43:00.006+01:00

The last pieces of roof trusses were removed from Stove House 5 by lunch time today.
After a damp period yesterday our luck held and today was again dry and warm.
The large forklift took more pallets of timbers to the ground ready to be stored in our temporary building.

H&E scaffold team were hard at work along side Anelays removing unwanted sections of scaffold. The internal platforms are being removed and the upper sections of brickwork are to be taken down to the warehouse floor level. after which the floor boards themselves will be taken to the timber store.

A1 Environment Services came out into the daylight after long periods inside Warehouse 2 and 3 removing collapsed pieces of cement asbestos roofing sheets which have fallen onto the internal floors.

WEEK 9 - Day 33 Roof Trusses almost Down - Internal Works

2009-09-22T11:41:00.004+01:00

Having had a couple of weeks of dry weather it was back to rain from lunch time, a soft drizzle with grey low cloud. Uncomfortable for those completing the dismantling of the roof, and dark for those within the pan houses and stove houses. But it dried up and stayed warm for the afternoon, so work continued quickly. Our working scaffold has itself started to be dismantled, working back from the east gable. The traget is to have all the roof timbers dismantled by end of work tomorrow, Wednesday.

WEEK 9 - Day 32 Continuing Works and Visit

2009-09-21T22:49:00.010+01:00

A1 Environment continued removing asbestos roof sheets from the former Salt Pan 2.
H&E Scaffolding continued erecting a scaffolding walkway through and around Salt Pans 3 and 4. William Anelay Ltd continued to dismantle the roof trusses of Stove House 5, and with the weight removed from the east gable the upstanding brickwork above the warehouse floor was also dismantled.
A video recording the dismantling of the east gable has been posted on Youtube and a link placed in last weeks diary account. Editing of the video taken as roof truss No.6 was dismantled is also now uploaded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nizNmZ6RWA.
Carolyn Shepherd took away some more timbers which are not required in the rebuilding phase and these will be used in an art installation as part of her 3rd Year art degree exhibition.
Middlewich Town Clerk, Jonathan Williams and Kerry Fletcher, Heritage Development Officer visited to see the progress of the Enabling Works. The brine pump of Murgatroyds Salt Works still survives in Middlewich and was operated by Tom Lightfoot whose manuscript and pencil drawings were edited and published by Annelise Fielding as 'Open Pan Salt Making in Cheshire' (see publications link opposite).

Dismantling roof trusses (left view from north) (right view from south)

Details of ridge boards showing diferences in construction between the ridge above the main trusses (left) and the ridge over the roof ventitator.

WEEK 8 - Day 31 Consolidating Scaffolding and Cleaning

2009-09-17T16:27:00.005+01:00

Today was a day of preparation before moving into new areas around the site.
We needed to scaffold up areas around Salt Pans 3 and 4 to provide inspection walkways for the architects.
Next week we move into the earliest stove houses and warehouses for Salt Pans 1 and 2. The ground areas have elements of collapsed roof structures which need clearing to allow the scaffold team access. Later, the build up of salt from the stove areas will be removed as this is holding a reservoir of damp inside the buildings leading to continual decay.
Our perimeter fencing is quickly being installed. Each of the posts is being hand dug because the fence line is either within the scheduled monument area, or is inaccessible to machines, but is should be all in place by the end of next week.

The scaffolding has been repositioned within the loading bay to allow decayed roofing from the Packing Area to be tidied away. To the North (right) of the Packing Area the western end of the Link Bridge between Stove House 5 and Stove House 2 is being photographed and recorded before it too is removed.
The ridge in the centre of the picture is one of the earliest parts of the salt works dating to the 1890's.

Below the Packing Room floor is a passage way that runs beneath Stove House 1 towards the canal. The collapsed staircase used to rise to a landing and door on the north end of Stove House 3. The door was later bricked up. This area is now lit by daylight because both the floor above, which connected Warehouse 2 to Warehouse 4, and the roof has collapsed in this area.

WEEK 8 - Day 30 Dismantling of Eastern Gable of Stove House 5

2009-09-16T15:24:00.009+01:00

With the complete removal of the roofing structures we started to dismantle and remove the roof trusses today, starting at the eastern gable. This was removed by lunch time and work moved on to the next roof truss. Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8jx_JVf4VQ.

The asbestos team started to remove sheeting from the collapsed areas around Salt Pan 2 and the former Packing Area around the central chimney.
The scaffold team started to install an access platform around Salt Pan 3.

In the evening there was a short presentation to our immediate neighbours in Marston village. Site Manager, David Marsh of William Anelay Ltd (centre with hard hat) gave an outline of the work being carried out by his team and was enthusiastic about the challenge they faced to carry out work programme to his companies high standards. It was opportunity for local people who have endured living next to a derelict site for many years to see how the HLF grant would transform their local environment. They could also see what all the banging and hammering was achieving and for us to get feedback about any of their concerns and try to address any problems.
Steve Woolfall (right) Heritage, Museums and Tourism Manager, Cheshire West and Chester Council explained the challenges being tackled by the council to move the project forward to Phase 2. The presentation was made in our temporary timber store. The Pump House and chimney can be seen through the open doorway.

WEEK 8 - Day 29 Roof Boarding Removed

2009-09-15T21:18:00.010+01:00

Having removed the asbestos sheeting we were able to completely removed the roof boarding today. Some 600 boards were removed. Look back to yesterday to see the uploaded video of the asbestos removal completed yesterday. Video of boarding removal can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mDh_R_gAPk. A time lapse sequence was shot of the work to remove the asbestos sheeting and the boarding. This is now uploaded at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIMyJrvP4EM
Perparations were made to begin dismantling the roof trusses tomorrow.

There was also a project team meeting today with team members from project managers Turner and Townsend; contractors, William Anelays Ltd; architects, Donald Insall Associates; structural engineers, The Moreton Partnership and owners Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Left to Right: Emma Burkit, T&T; David Marsh, Anelay; Gemma Haigh,T&T; Rik Fox, Moreton Partnership; Steve Woolfall,CW&C; Charles Anelay, Anelay; Simon Mallom,Insalls.

WEEK 8 - Day 28 Stove House 5 Roof Dismantling Completed

2009-09-14T17:02:00.012+01:00

The last sheets of asbestos cladding were removed from the south side of the roof today. A video record of the work can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziddLksSh2U

Whilst the south side asbestos was being completed, work could start on removing the tarred paper and then the roofing boards. These are in excellent condition and are being stored for replacement within the re-built stove House in Phase 2 of the works next year.

The fixing bolts for the asbestos sheets were cut by an electric saw and each of these has to be removed. Smaller nails held the boards in place and these were prised clean of the timber and the boards removed.

Work could be carried out from the internal scaffold platforms, or from standing on the outer face of the boards themselves. A boardwalk around the perimeter of the building and a safety rail provided access from the outside and the necessary safety for those removing the boards.

The external cladding from the end gables is much thinner timber and will be replaced with new wood during the rebuilding. In the east gable a glazed window will look out along the canal side from the salt works. Samples of the cladding timbers will be retained as sample materials.

Some of the boards however will have a different future life a part of an art installation being prepared by student Carolyn Shepherd. She came today to select some pieces which were most suited to her proposed concept. Visit her web site to see her work http://www.carolynshepherd.co.uk/

WEEK 7 - Day 27 Loading Bay Floorboarding and Stove House 5 Roof

2009-09-10T16:08:00.008+01:00

Today we completed the removal of floor boarding from the Loading Bay platform.
Many boards are in fair condition, but where rain and weather has been able to get at the timber ends you can see the outer ends have decayed.
To see a video of how this was carried out follow the link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BJ6u3j67jg.

In the fantastic early September weather our A1 suffered in their protective suits to cut the sheeting clips, and remove the boarding. The underlying boards are in excellent condition having also been protected by a roofing felt. His is the view from outside our exhibition building. Come along and see the work as it progresses, Monday to Thursday until November.

WEEK 7 - Day 26 Stove House 5 Asbestos Roof Removal

2009-09-09T21:56:00.009+01:00

A1 Environmental began to remove the cement asbestos sheeting from the roof of Stove House 5 this morning. Work stated on the northern facing side of the building. Our timelapse camera will record the sequence of work on the south side on Thursday.
Work is carried ouut safely from the scaffoldng erected inside and out side, and from roof ladders.

The roof cladding had a felt membrane underneath it, which has protected the underlying boarding from the weather. The boards will be removed carefully and stored for reuse when the Stove House is rebuilt, but a non-asbestos substitute cladding will provide the final roof finish.

The asbestos sheets are removed by carefully cutting the fixing bolts and lifting the sheets of whole. The sheets are stacked on the scaffoold before being lowered to the ground for wrapping and transport off site.

WEEK 7 - Day 25 Loading Bay Roof Dismantling

2009-09-08T16:09:00.007+01:00

Dismantling of the high Loading Bay roof was carried out today, whilst the scaffolding team erected the final tier of working floors inside Stove House 5.

There will be a short video posted here in the next few days showing this operation.

Concrete pads were prepared to take scaffold tower that wil support the salt pan when it is removed from the furnace. We jope to have a time lapse sequence showing this process, weater permitting.

Ground clearing was also completed around the perimeter of the site to enable access for the fencing team to erect the boundary fence.

A large section of the south west area, backing onto our neighbours' gardens is marked out as a 'butterfly' garden in partnership with Butterfly Conservation. This work helps us look forward to when the site ceases to be a building site, but is fully renovated and open for visitors. More on this in later entries. The exhibition was opened by volunteers during the Enabling Works - Monday to Thursday 1.30 to 4.30.

Check for more recent updates to opening times.

WEEK 7 - Day 24 Asbestos Removal Begins

2009-09-07T16:27:00.008+01:00

A1 Environmental Ltd started removal of the roofing cement asbestos sheeting this morning. The first target was the Loading Bay.
Using a cherry picker the operatives spray the sheets to prevent dust and cut the securing fastenings in order to remove the sheets in one piece, avoiding breakages.
Tomorrow work moves to the main roof of Stove House 5.
http://www.a1environmental.co.uk/

Manouvering the cherry picker beneath the Loading Bay roof.

Wearing protective suits, gloves and masks the sheets are sprayed before cutting through the fastenings.

WEEK 6 - Day 23 Scaffolding and Labelling

2009-09-03T19:41:00.014+01:00

Graham Sykes of William Anelay Ltd taking photographs inside Stove House 5 surrounded by the rising forest of scaffold poles.

Close up photographs of the upper roof trusses will be possible when the upper scaffold lifts and the working platforms are completed.

The scaffold platforms will enable us to walk within the roof space to record and label all the timbers of the roof.
The asbestos removal team will be able to reach the cement asbestos roof panels through the openings created by the removal of the plastic covered roof lights. This has be carried out carefully to avoid breaking the panels. They will be removed and bagged for controlled disposal. This work will start next week.

The vertical studding of the west end gable revealed carpenters marks pencilled onto the timbers. 'A1' is the first vertical timber of the gable end truss. Two pencil marks indicate where the first horizontal beam meets the truss.

The fifth vertical timber is pencil marked '5'.
Our numbering system was labelled up on our cad drawing last year, and prefixes each timber with a code letter and a sequential number. We also started at the south side of the west gable - so this vertical timber of Stove House 5 now has the label SH5 VT5.

Our labels are written in permanent ink on a plastic paper, securely fixed to each timber with coloured tie grips. Each truss will have a different coloured tie grip so that it can be easily be identified and located with the timber store.

You will see the racking and storage system in the timber store when the truses are taken down.

WEEK 6 - Day 22 Views from the Scaffolding

2009-09-02T17:19:00.014+01:00

As we prepare to start the dismantling works in Stove House 5 here are some views of the surrounding area from the vantage point of our scaffolding at the top of Stove House 5.

Looking north at Marston Flashes, created in 1928 by the collapse of the Adelaide Rock salt Mine. Lion Salt Works pumped brine into the Brine Tank from brine streams 150 feet below ground. The Adelaide Works mined rock salt from a Bottom bed of rock salt at 300ft.
The Trent and Mersey Canal passes along the front of the Lion Salt Works and was used to bring coal to the works, mainly from collieries in the Stoke-on-Trent area of North Staffordshire
In 1888 the Manchester Guardian described this area as a 'black country' with baked earth and sulphurous black smoke polluting the atmosphere where no trees or grass could grow.

Looking south the distant tower of St Helens Church, Witton can be seen. Between Marston and Witton there were rock salt mines which collapsed causing the road to be diverted. The collapsed mines were used as land fill sites for lime waste from the local chemical works. Ashtons and Neumans Flashes are now landscaped as a Community Woodland with footpaths and cycle ways. This is a great area for bird watching with many wading species and exotics such as black swans, egrets, grebes and last year black legged stilts.

To the south west you can see the chemical works of Brunner Mond which uses brine and salt to make soda ash and sodium bicarbonate. The works is at Winnington, but looks out over the Anderton Lift, which connects the Trent and Mersey Canal to the River weaver. the Lion Salt Works shipped salt by narrow boat along the canal to transfer salt to waiting barges where it was sailed to Liverpool Docks for export overseas.

web links to follow

WEEK 6 - Day 21 Timber Store Completed

2009-09-01T10:24:00.011+01:00

We left the site on Thursday of last week with the temporary timber store starting to be erected. On the Friday and Saturday the construction team completed the main erection, leaving only the roller shutter doors and internal lighting to be installed today. Work can start today dismantling Stove House 5.

The scaffolding has been completed around the outside of the building giving access to the external boards at each of the gable ends.
After horrible weather over the week end we have a calm and sunny start to the day, but the forcast for the week is for showers and rain.
The ground surface between the store and Stove House 5 will be cleaned and covered in a membrane and stone giving a firm and clean surface to work from.
The scaffolding is being inserted within Stove House 5 to provide a safe working platform from which to begin dismantling the roof trusses. The work wiill commence on Monday 7 September with the removal of the asbestos sheeting that covers the roof.

This work will be captured on our time lapse camera and posted here and on Youtube.

The removal of the external cladding boards from eth east and west gables was completed today, and scaffoldong was started inside the Stove House rising through the warehouse floor. This will support working platforms below the roof structures and around the trusses from which we will dismantle the timber frame. Watch the work at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSvI97QibJo

WEEK 5 - Day 20 Arrival of Timber Store

2009-08-27T10:43:00.005+01:00

Our temporay building arrived this morning, on an Irish lorry with a Lithianian driver, containing a German building with erection engineers from London. The store will take three days to fully erect, but the frame will be finished today. Our work takes a break over the August Bank Holiday weekend, so Day 21 of the Enabling Works will continue on Tuesday 1 September 2009.

A dragonfly resting on a timber beside Pan No.5. Can anyone identify it please?

WEEK 5 - Day 19 Ground Works, Scaffolding, Local News

2009-08-26T13:54:00.008+01:00

To view how the site looked this morning link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4kHwgCSaVY
The preparations for erecting our temporary building store can be seen and there is a tour around and inside of Stove House 5. It is amazing that Henry Thompson only had this constructed in 1965, but it is to a much earlier design. Most of our work is targeted at recording and dismantling Stove House 5, so that it can be re-built on a new foundation. All materials will be stored and repaired for re-building in 2010. The revitalised building will house the Lion Salt Works Museum shop, cafe and interpretation centre. Much of the rest of this blog will detail how the dismantling will be carried out.

Site Manager, David Marsh gave a short tour to the editor of the Marston parish newsletter, Sarah Hubbard. Sarah has been passing on information about the start of our works to local residents through her monthly newsletter. To help her to understand the work she was given a close up view of the progress we have made. William Anelay Ltd are signed up to the Considerate Constructors Scheme - http://www.ccscheme.org.uk/ , so keeping our neighbours well informed is important to them, and helps to get feedback from locals who might have issues with aspects of the work. Our door is always open if anyone has any problems, or indeed if they want to tell us that we are exceeding their expectations.

WEEK 5 - Day 18 Dismantling Link Bridge & Site Survey

2009-08-25T21:28:00.008+01:00

The link bridge between Stove House 5 and the main salt works complex was removed today. This allowed the scaffolding on the west side of Stove House 5 to be raised to the ridge at the top of the gable.
Scaffolding was extended to the est side of Stove House 5 to prop and secure the east wall before we can start to dismantle the salt pan and furnace structure. The pan is to be retained, but the furnace will be removed and the pan will be lowered to the ground and painted to help preserve it for the future.
Preparations for our temporary car park surface continued and a topographic survey was begun to plot in all our buildings and produce a contour survey of the ground surface.
There was a big thunderstorm this afternoon, which seems to be typical of the summer we have had this year.

Surveyors, Katie Barrowclough and Naomi Clarke, from Tower Surveys Ltd, Stoke-on-Trent, worked through sun, wind and rain to plot in all the features of the topography to refresh our site information.

WEEK 5 - Day 17 Timelapse record of works to Stove House 5

2009-08-24T13:44:00.012+01:00

Julian Baum and Claire Duval of Take 27 have been helping set up a time lapse camera which will record work being carried out to Stove House 5. Over the coming weeks the whole of this building will be dismantled and stored ready for re-erection as part of the Phase 2 works.
The camera looks out of the upstairs window of the former Red Lion Inn, now the offices and exhibition area of the Lion Salt Works Project.

A sequence of the scaffolding being erected is now available, the work completed at the end of last week. Link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6PNR74aoMQ

For information about the work of Take 27 go to http://www.take27.co.uk/

Work being completed today, includes additional scaffolding to the north of Stove House 5, ground works to the general site surface and temporary car parking for visitors, asbestos removal and dismantling of the link bridge between Stove House 5 and the main salt works complex.

The nails have corroded, all the salt eating into the iron work, making the structure very unstable. The scaffold provides a safe working platform to photograph, label and remove the structure.

Much of our loading bay is made up of re-used timbers. One second hand telegraph post has this inscription GPO 1908 R

WEEK 4 - Day 16 Visit by Henry Lloyd Thompson

2009-08-20T21:34:00.010+01:00

The former owner of the Lion Salt Works, Henry Lloyd Thompson visited the site today to see how our restoration works were proceeding.

Henry built Stove House 5 in 1965 and we wanted to show him the plans to dismantle the building and re-erect it on a new foundation. This will preserve the impressive roof construction which was built by a local company from Pickmere, Curbishleys.

Ground works continued to grade and clear the site. Contaminated soil and rubble has been taken from the site to designated landfill sites following our waste management plan. Cement asbestos sheeting from the roof areas has been contained and bagged for safe, controlled removal and disposal.

Scaffolding has been completed up to the eaves on the south and east elevations of Stove House5.
This provides a safe working platform around the walls, but also braces and supports the walls. This will be essential when dismantling begins. The building will begin to loose strength as the roof structure is removed. Follow the dismantling process during Septemember and October.

WEEK 4 - Day 15 Continuing site preparations

2009-08-19T23:07:00.011+01:00

We continued preparing the ground surfaces around the cabins and Stove House 5 and cleared the site boundaries, ready to erect a new fence.
The scaffolding below the bridge link between Stove House 5 and the main pan house complex is increasing every day, rising to the eaves on the west side of Stove House 5.
We have started to install a camera to record the dismantling of Stove House 5 using time lapse photography. Moe details will be posted on Monday, Day 17.

WEEK 4 - Day 14 Laserscan Survey

2009-08-18T14:28:00.008+01:00

A team from APR Services started a two day programme of laser scanning today. Tony Rogers carried out the first laser scan of the salt works, which was used to produce the cad drawings for our Conservation Plan.

Luke Cable and Tom Avery with Tony Rogers (right) in front of the salt pan to Pan House 5. Warehouse 5 behind.

Video link to see laser scan survey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fygt3cswvOI

Link to report of the initial survey -http://www.ceg.ncl.ac.uk/heritage3d/casestudies.htm.

APR Services http://www.aprservices.net/index.html ex.html

Also today we removed an oil storage tank weighing 3 tons, which stored oil for burning under Pan No.5

The tank was empty of oil but had to be disposed of as a contaminated container.

WEEK 4 - Day 13 Preparing Stove House 5 and Ground Works

2009-08-17T21:11:00.007+01:00

Work continued on preparing Stove House 5 for a laserscan survey, which starts tomorrow - and on investingating the ground strength for the car park surface.

WEEK 3 - Day 12 Scaffolding Loading Bay and Preparing Pan No5

2009-08-13T22:02:00.016+01:00

At the end of the third week preparations are well advanced to prepare the site and buildings for the main works schedule. The grounds have been cleared of vegetation and is ready to be 'stoned up' to give a stable working surface. The old security fence has been removed and scaffolding is starting to arrive on site.

Next week the ground surface will be surveyed, and a laserscan survey will be completed in the stove areas of Pan House 1, 3, 4 and 5 and around Pan No 5.

Scaffolding has started to be erected at the north end of the Loading Bay to allow working access to the overhead walkway between Stove House 5 and the main salt works complex. The scaffold will allow safe working for survey work prior to elements being labelled and dismantled.

Pan House 5 was the last pan house to be constructed and used at the Lion Salt Works. It was built in 1965. The roof structure over the pan collapsed some time ago and was removed, but the hurdles either side of the pan remained, collapsed beside the pan at 45 degrees.

The decayed planks were first removed to reveal the supporting joists. Excess brine would seep from the salt that had been raked from the salt pan to drip into the drainage gulley below the hurdles.

Holding the 2m ranging rod is Gareth Wilkes, pupil at The Grange School, Hartford who spent this week helping at the site as part of a work experience placement. The hurdle platform would have extended from the side of the salt pan (on the right) to the outside wall which sat on top of the dwarf wall to be seen on the left. The hurdle would have enabled salt blocks to be wheeled into the brick Stove House through the door that can be seen above Gareth's head.
You can see the roof line of the Pan House where it joined the Stove House. The SE corner of the stove house has collapsed but this enables you to see the warehouse floor where the salt blocks were stored after they had been dried in the stove house (also caled a hot house - or te 'otters)

Gareth helped catalogue some of the finds that are being made during these enabling works. A variety of artefacts have been found. On the left, a milk bottle was found in the Loading Bay area, possibly dating to the 1950's. It came from Horner's Creamery at Cuddington.

Heavier and more substantial are a group of railway 'chairs found around the Brine Pump. Probably lifted from the private railway siding they are cast with the letters LMSR.

WEEK 3 - Day 11 Scaffolding arrives

2009-08-12T16:48:00.006+01:00

Scaffolding arrived this morning to begin supporting the outside of Stove House 5 and to provide a working platform from which to survey and dismantle the link walkway between Stove House 5 the main complex of Stove House 1 and 2. The first wagon of poles was waiting outside the site on Ollershaw Lane at 7am, ready for off loading. You can see the Salt Store on the opposite side of the road to the Lion Salt Works.

On site the first set of poles and planks are off loaded and moved to the Loading Bay area.

The first area to be scaffolded is this area at the north end of the Loading Bay to allow safe access to the overhead walkway which provides access from the warehouse floor of Stove House 5 to the main complex of earlier pan houses. This link walkway will be first building element to be dismantled, prior to the later dismantling of the whole of Stove House 5.

An asbestos survey is being undertaken to identify remaining asbestos on site and to prepare a method statement for safe removal.

Also being labelled is the collapsed headstock from over the first brine shaft of 1894.

WEEK 3 - Day 10 - Stacking and Wrapping

2009-08-11T16:43:00.005+01:00

Watched by a local, semi-resident we began wrapping an storing bricks and timber from the buildings being prepared for scaffolding support prior to dismantling. Pallets of materials are being labeled and protected from the elements by being shrink wrapped in plastic.

WEEK 3 - Day 9 Dismantling the section of a flue

2009-08-10T19:14:00.004+01:00

Another damp day in our variable summer. Work continued with site preparations. Our former galvanised fencing is now inside the contractors' site boundary, so it is being dismantled.

The area around Stove House 5 is also being cleaned to allow access for the scaffolding team. They will erect their scaffold around the walls of the stove house, strengthening and supporting the walls to allow working access for dismantling the building later in the schedule of works. This will be the most dramatic part of the works.

Stove House 5 utilised an older chimney to carry away fumes from the fires lit below the salt pan. However, because the chimney was originally built for use with a fishery salt pan it is some way from Stove House 5 and required the construction of an overground flue. The smoke and fumes were drawn to the chimney by the use of an electric fan. A section of this flue has been dismantled today to provide clear access to the SW corner of the building. The materials have been stored on pallets and stored for re-erecting when Stove House 5 is rebuilt next year.

Removing the brick walls from the overground flue between the SW corner of Stove House 5 and the chimney. The metal plates forming the base of the flue are heavily corroded with the effects of salt transfer through the flue. The metal feature attached to the wall is a damper to regulate the flow of hot air through the flue. The pipe work bottom right is the brine pipe carrying brine from the pump to the brine storage tank located on the north side of Stove House 5.

WEEK 2 - Day 8 Review of Days 1-8

2009-08-06T16:21:00.007+01:00

The vegetation has been cut back and cleared to allow access to all parts of the compound area. Stored objectes have been 're-found' and we can now see the brine pump etc.
The area around Stove House 5 is being cleared to allow it to be scaffolded prior to dismantling.
More on this next week.
A video diary of some of the preparation works is linked below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMUV8qz5uyQ

The view from the first floor woindow of teh former Red Lion Inn, looking north east. We hope to film a time lapse sequence of the work being carried out to dismantle and rebuild Stove House 5 from this view point.

WEEK 2 - Day 7 Meet the Enabling Team

2009-08-05T16:57:00.009+01:00

Our Enabling Team are from the renovation and restoration company William Anelay's, specialists in the repair and restoration of historic structures.

Front row from left to right : Ken Jones, Chris Watson, Adam McKechnie, Simon Allen

Back row from left to right : Chris Winnington, John Watts and David Marsh.

Dave Marsh is the Anelay's Small Works and Contracts Manager and Site Manager for the Lion Salt works project. Chris Watson and Simon Allen both work with Anelay's, whilst Ken, Adam, the other Chris and John have been recruited locally from the Northwich area.

For a web link to William Anelay's go to the Contractors panel on the left and click to visit their web site and see the projects the company has worked on in the past.

WEEK 2 - Day 6 Visit from Inspector of Monuments

2009-08-04T17:02:00.010+01:00

As the site build up continues we were visited today by Jennie Stopford, Ancient Monuments Inspector for English Heritage North West. She came to view the site prior to work commencing on dismantling Stove House 5 and view site preparations. She was shown around the site by Andrew Fielding, Archaeological Project Officer at the Lion Salt Works for Cheshire West and Chester Council. As the site is a scheduled monument a detailed description of the work that is to be carried out on site has been given consent by the Department of Media Culture and Sport. Jennie Stopford will monitor that the work is carried out in accordance with the approved design brief.

The most obvious piece of work will be the dismantling of Stove House 5. The building will be carefully dismantled, labelled and stored ready for rebuilding on its original footprint.

New foundations are required for the re-erection to enable it to be fitted out as a cafe, shop and exhibition room. But, because it is sitting on the remains of an earlier salt works, an archaeological excavation is required to record what structures lie below the building.

More details in later reports.

WEEK 2 - Day 5 Setting up the Site

2009-08-03T20:49:00.016+01:00

We are continuing to set up the site during this second week of enabling works. The day number relates to the working days the contractors are on site. To reduce travelling overheads they are working longer days whilst the light is good, up to twelve hour days for four days each week, so this is Day 5 in Week 2 of a twelve week programme. The contract team will feature in the next post.

Old fence posts are being removed and debris removed from site. A waste disposal policy separates all waste by material for individual disposal.
Bracken and brambles are being removed to enable a clear view of all the structures. We will see the remains of a former fishery salt pan when this area around the 'nodding donkey' pump is cleared.

The pump is powered by a horizontal engine housed in the Engine House. The brick structure on the right held a water tank to supply feed water for the boiler. These structures will be described in greater detail when they are clearly visible.

Areas previously excavated are being uncovered. These cobbles and pan plates were last seen as part of a schools excavation carried out in 1994.

Features such as this are to be protected from the construction vehicles, cranes etc whilst the main works are carried out. The protection works will be described in the next few posts.

WEEK 1 Day 4 - Visit by Simon Thurley, English Heritage

2009-07-30T13:59:00.013+01:00

The project received an important visitor at the early stages of the restoration work when the CEO of English Heritage, Simon Thurley made a visit to the Lion Salt Works on 30th July, 2009.

The starting point for the visit was Pan House 3.

Left to right: Henry Owen-John, Steve Woolfall, Emma Burkitt, Simon Thurley, David Roberts.

Simon Thurley was accompanied by Henry Owen-John, Planning & Development Regional Director North West and Graham Ives, Historic Areas Advisor North West Office of English Heritage. Also joining the morning briefing and site tour was Sarah Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery North West.

The historical background and archaeological importance of the site and the process of salt making was given by Andrew Fielding. Steve Woolfall, Museums, Heritage and Tourism Manager, Cheshire West and Chester Council described the vision for the site after the buildings are restored and the role Lion Salt Works will make in the portfolio of heritage and recreational facilities being established in the Weaver Valley. Emma Burkitt, Project Manager, Turner and Townsend and John Simons, Donald Insall Associates outlined the enabling works and the philosophy being employed it carrying out the works.

Simon Thurley and Henry Owen-John ponder the challenging task of restoring the pan houses which are impregnated with salt
Salt was wheeled through this door from the pan house to the Stove House where the saltblocks were dried before being lofted to the warehouse above.

The group walked around the main pan house buildings to the canal side and the brine tank.

The large timber leaning against the north wall of Stove House 5 is part of a collapsed headstock. This lattice tower collapsed when salt corrosion eroded the metal fastenings which held the timbers together.

Such structures are iconic of this type of site.

The briefing meeting was an important one at the very early stages of the project.

WEEK 1 Day 1-2 - Setting up the Site

2009-07-29T09:13:00.011+01:00

After all the fundraising, planning, site reports and studies - work is actually begining on site. You know it really has all started when the contractor arrives to set up on site, the full safety information gets posted, and you need those hard hats, high viz jackets and steel toecap boots.

The business end of the project has now been handed over to the contractors to begin the programme of 'Enabling Works' which is the First Phase of Restoring the Lion Salt Works.

The work will be described briefly over the coming weeks and we will follow the progress as it is carried out and completed. The Lion Salt Works Team at Cheshire West and Chester Council will be introduced together with the Design Team and Contractors.

The site is being divided into two sections - the northern sector, where the main salt works complex lies; Pan Houses, Brine Tank and the Pump House. This area is to be secured as the working area.

The southern half of the site will remain open for visitors during fixed opening times, but will be secured by a perimeter fence, again to make the site totally secure. The Lion Salt Works Trust and Friends of the Lion Salt Works will continue to open the exhibition centre in the former Red Lion Inn and pass on information about the history of the site and the progress of the restoration works as things move forward.

The first fence panels being erected around the northern perimeter of the site fronting the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Dividing the site in two. On a wet and dismal day at the end of July.

Background to this blog

2009-07-21T10:21:00.004+01:00

The Lion Salt Works is about to begin a programme of restoration costing £7m. We want to tell you how the work is carried out, why it is being done, who is funding it and who are making it happen.
There are links to other web sites, YouTube videos where you can find out more about this important industrial monument, which is protected as a designated Scheduled Monument ...
but this will be a live site, updated weekly, or as things happen.
Because the salt works will become a construction site, access will be limited. In this blog we will take you up close to the work in words, photographs and video to describe how the restoration work is carried out.
Subscribe to the blog to follow the restoration work and see a derelict open pan salt works brought back to life as an industrial museum in the heart of Cheshire.