Northwich Now and Then explores early modern era in the town

Northwich Now and Then's early modern period episode explored the town’s transformation during the 16th to 18th centuries with special guest Tony Bostock, a local historian and author.

The third instalment of the series, presented by Mike Cooksley, focused on the early modern era and featured Mr Bostock’s insights into how the town evolved after the medieval period.

Mr Bostock said: "It was a small urban area of around about seven or eight acres, and it centred on the Bull Ring, but its extremities were very limited compared to what they are now."

He explained that once you passed what is now the Swinging Witch on the High Street, you left Northwich and entered Witton, which operated under different controls and rules.

He described Northwich as 'very compact' and divided into three zones - residential, commercial, and industrial.

The brine pit, supplying the salt industry and described as being where the health centre is on Watling Street, was key to the town’s growth.

The industrial process relied on a network of wooden troughs carrying brine to more than 100 salt houses, or 'wych houses' where it was boiled to produce salt.

The third instalment of the series focused on the early modern era (Image: Jim Stanley)

Quoting a 16th century chronicler, Mr Bostock said: "There is a salt spring or brine pit on the bank of the River Dane, from which the brine runneth on the ground in troughs of wood covered over with boards until it comes to the wych houses where they make the salt."

He explained that the boiling process involved lead pans, about three feet square and six inches deep, heated over fires.

The Northwich salt workers added 'bull's blood or sheep's blood', 'egg whites', and 'ale' to the brine, which created a scum carrying impurities to the surface for removal.

In 1548, Northwich was home to about 188 people, 'all concentrated around the Bull Ring.'

This number grew to 500 by 1600 as Northwich developed into a market centre, and reached 800 by 1750, a growth Mr Bostock attributed to the opening of the Weaver Navigation, which brought new trade and job opportunities.

Mr Bostock said taxation records from the mid-17th century reveal a bustling market town with 'butchers, drapers, grocers, tailors, shoemakers, glovers, saddlers, blacksmiths, carpenters' and other trades including a unique 'barrow maker'.

He explained: "A barrow was a conical wicker basket in which they would put the damp salt and hang it up to dry."

Despite the growing commercial activity, poverty was widespread.

The third instalment of the series focused on the early modern era (Image: Jim Stanley)

Taxation records suggest that half the population was exempt from paying due to poverty.

Mr Bostock said: "The standard of living for a lot was very, very low indeed."

But on the other end of the social scale, Northwich had its share of wealthy residents.

Mr Bostock mentioned William Bentley, a medical doctor from Winnington Hill, who left an estate worth around £1,400 in the mid-17th century.

A number of other prosperous residents died with fortunes in the hundreds of pounds.

Mr Bostock explained: "They did tend to live, as I say, below Winnington Hill."

Shops offered a broad range of goods, including lace, dress materials, spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, rice, almonds, wines, spirits, and tobacco.

One shop even sold books and writing supplies.

The third instalment of the series focused on the early modern era (Image: Jim Stanley)

Northwich also played a role in the English Civil War.

Originally royalist due to the influence of the Earl of Derby, the town quickly fell under parliamentarian control and was fortified as a garrison town.

A key defensive episode occurred in 1644 when fears of a royalist attack led to the demolition of buildings for military purposes.

Mr Bostock recounted the story of Katharin Stubbs, who received compensation after four bays of her house were torn down to improve defences.

He described the streets and layout of Northwich during this time as largely unchanged from the medieval period, with main thoroughfares like London Road and Witton Street forming the spine of the community.

As population pressure grew in the 17th century, development spread out along these roads, eventually expanding into surrounding areas.

Listeners were reminded of the depth and continuity of Northwich’s urban and social legacy, with parts of the modern street plan still reflecting its centuries-old origins.