Salt, Saxons, and survival shaped centuries of life in Northwich as the town evolved from the Roman era.
In the second episode of Northwich Now and Then, Radio Northwich presenter Mike Cooksley explores the medieval period from the departure of the Romans in the fifth century up to the late 15th century.
Mike was joined by Cheshire historian and author, Tony Bostock, and Hannah Ryder, the manager at the Lion Salt Works Museum, to discuss the period which saw Northwich transform from a Roman settlement into a key Saxon, and later Norman centre, shaped by political, economic, and social change.
Tony explained the early part of this era is often referred to as the ‘Dark Ages’ - not necessarily because the period was bleak, but due to the historical obscurity which followed the Roman withdrawal.
He said: "There was no central authority, so it reverted back to the old tribal system, to the old British tribal systems, and a lot of the infrastructure that the Romans left behind became disused.
"If you started to walk down towards the town centre as we now know it, it would be open land you'd be walking down.
"You probably could see across the rivers towards Castle. As you're walking down from Witton, you'd see a cross, and you'd probably be able to see a fort.
"Looking down to the confluence of the two rivers, the Dane and the Weaver, you probably see something of a settlement around about the river crossings. There wouldn't be much else."
Despite the collapse of Roman order, some industries endured. Salt production, which predated the Romans, continued as a vital trade into the time of the Saxons.
Tony added: “The influence of the Saxons would have been profound.
"The influx of the Saxons took place over a long period of time. We're talking about over a couple of hundred years.
“From the sixth century, slowly, the Saxon way of life became dominant, their culture became dominant, their language became dominant.
"And one of the most significant things about this period of time is the formation of our place names.
“I would suggest that perhaps 95 per cent of place names, certainly in Cheshire, are based upon Saxon words, and the Saxon language.
"That, I think, is probably the most important thing, that change in language, change in culture, and giving us place names."
By the Saxon period, the area was controlled by the Earls of Mercia, who owned the salt works and collected taxes from their operation.
Northwich then emerged as a key export centre under Norman rule, following the 1066 invasion, distinguishing it from Middlewich and Nantwich, which focused mainly on local supply.
Tony said: “There were different tariffs, depending on who the people of Northwich were actually producing salt for.
"So if it was for local people, then it would be a low tariff. If it was somebody just outside the town, there would be another tariff, and somebody outside the county, it would be a higher tariff than that.
“Salt production lasted continuously right away through to the 17th century, really.
"So the way in which they're producing the brine probably is very, very similar the Roman times, right through the Saxon period, right through the Middle Ages.
"The way in which they produce the bride doesn't change, and Northwich doesn't change. It remains about the same size throughout continues. The changes come in the 17th century."
Big events taking place during this time include the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, the 100 Years War between 1337 and 1453, and the Black Death in 1348.
Tony said: "The Black Death would have affected the trade of this town.
"Trade dropped substantially during the bubonic plague. The financial returns for 1349, show a decline in income for the Earl of Chester, and that decline has a note alongside it ‘due to the pestilence’."
Hannah Ryder, manager at Lion Salt Works Museum, discussed the people of the time.
She added: “The Anglo-Saxons in England were diverse in their origins and cultural influences.
"They were composed of people from lots of different Germanic tribes, and then with them migrating to Britain from all over continental Europe, their skin tone would have been pretty similar to ours today.
"And then later in the 11th century, when the Normans came in, the Norman rule would have sort of seen most change in terms of travellers and conquerors bringing their own fashion to England again from other places.
“Everyday life was fairly similar to that of the Roman times, really.
They were obviously working in salt production. They would have been performing agricultural duties and things like that."
Northwich Now and Then airs on Radio Northwich at 1pm on the first Friday of each month and aims to explore the last 2,000 years of history in and around the town.
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