The Cheshire mine which hosted a banquet for Russian emperor

In the issue dated August, 24, 1850, we find an article on the salt mines of Northwich, mainly the Marston Salt mine, including a visit from a contributor.

At a time, even from 1850, salt was burdened with a heavy-duty, namely £30 a ton or £4,488.77 in today's money.

But the duty had recently been abolished by 1842, making salt far more affordable. After the abolition of tax duty, the wholesale price came down to 6s/6d per ton or £35.50p in today's money.

Our regular readers of Yesteryears and Looking Back may remember the article of August 2019 when we looked at the Marston mine.

So before going further, a reminder of that mine.

The Adelaide Mine at Marston, owned by Joseph Verdin's company, discovered a profit not just in salt but as a tourist attraction.

Inside the mine (Paul Hurley) (Image: Paul Hurley)

Local people were allowed to view the spectacle, and Grand Duke Michael of Russia visited.

The mine covered an area of 35 acres and formed a vast cavern, similar to the Winsford salt mine today.

This allowed as many as 900 people to dance the night away, albeit it had taken a while to get them all down there.

In 1844 it was illuminated with over 10,000 candles when it was host to Emperor Nicholas of Russia and The Royal Society of England for a banquet.

This huge banqueting hall sparkled in orange light from the walls, floors and ceiling and the many twinkling candle lights — all 130ft below the surface of Marston.

The mine was situated below what is now the lake in Ollershaw Lane. In 1928 this underground spectacular and working mine suffered as many Northwich mines were, flooded by water.

Paul Hurley (Image: Paul Hurley)

The only casualties were three pit ponies, and the mine eventually collapsed upon itself, leaving the lake to appear above.

But back to the visit of our 1850 writer to Northwich and the Marston mine, which had plans to become the above-famed tourist attraction within a short time. Bearing in mind that trains and photographic cameras were in their infancy at this time.

Alighting at Hartford Sation from the Liverpool train, our man was in the company of a friend who had previously been down the mine.

Describing the pleasant walk from there to Northwich, a town he had heard much of, was at the centre of the salt district where there were 69 salt workings at the time.

He heard much of the Marston mine from his friend and that it was the largest, best, and well worth seeing.

They called at an inn to make enquiries and were directed to the home of the agent or manager of the mine.

Marston Mine method of entry for salt and people (Paul Hurley) (Image: Paul Hurley)

The locals assured him that tourists were welcome and they would have no trouble going down.

They were told the manager was at the mine on reaching the house, so they made their way to it.

On the way, they stopped at a chemist to purchase a shilling's worth of blue lights as they were told would be required in the dark pit.

On the walk there, they described the Northwich landscape as being somewhat rickety. Some of the houses leaned fearfully to one side as if from the effects of an earthquake.

There was, he declared, using an appropriate simile as drunkenness about the whole place. The buildings and trees appeared to have been making a night of it and going home drunk.

He feared that some of the houses looked like they were about to fall. This, he explained, was caused by the soil over the old salt mines collapsing into the void, causing the houses and trees above to fall off the perpendicular (this, I think, was a bit simplistic).

Illustrated London News, January to June edition 1850 (Paul Hurley) (Image: Paul Hurley)

He would not spend the night in some farmhouses he passed on the way. The walk was about two miles, and when they arrived at the pit office, they found a lady and gentleman waiting to descend.

Soon they were joined by the manager, who asked them to sign the visitors' book before they were handed over to one of the foremen to give them a tour.

The foreman told them the mine area was 35 acres and 250 yards deep.

Next week we accompany our heroes down the 1850 Marston Duke/Adelaide mine as they are given a guided tour.