Salt mining

Today I took a stroll with the dogs along the banks of the River Weaver from Town Bridge in Winsford downstream to the Meadowbank Mine. As you walk through the parkland that runs along the eastern bank it is difficult to envisage just how industrialised it once was, with saltworks crowded upon each other right down to the water on both sides. Apart from the former Colin Stewart works there is little industry until you begin to approach Newbridge and the Meadowbank Salt Mine appears. It appeared that no salt was being raised as redevelopment work was being undertaken on the conveyor from the skip shaft, seen here in the background, to the cone on the left. A new lorry loading point is being constructed in the white building seen just to the right of the cone. Meanwhile, a number of machines were moving rock salt about on the much depleted stockpiles along the riverside.