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

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

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.