Visiting the Museum
A visit to the Salt Museum begins with a short introductory film which sets the scene for the galleries. Visitors are then directed upstairs to the main displays. At the top of the stairs, or lift, is our Salt of the Earth gallery, exploring the story of mid-Cheshire people through archaeology and local history displays. The story of the River Weaver and the lives of those who worked and lived alongside it transporting salt and coal for the industry is told in a special gallery. Three more salt galleries show how salt has been produced in Cheshire for over 2, 000 years, explore the rock salt mining story and depict the dramatic effect of salt subsidence in Northwich and Winsford. The 'Made from Salt' gallery explores some of the 14,000 uses of salt, from drying out Egyptian mummies to the discovery of Polythene in Northwich in 1933.
On the ground floor of the museum visitors will find an exhibition about the earlier history of the building as the Northwich Union workhouse in the old workhouse schoolroom and our temporary exhibition gallery which shows intriguing displays of local history and changes regularly through the year.
Visitors to the museum at weekends and school holidays can also explore the magnificent board room where the Guardians of the workhouse used to meet to conduct the affairs of this institution. This room is used by
school groups during the week but is open at other times for general visitors to view.
The Salt Museum has a free car park adjacent to the building. There are accessible toilets in the main building.
The museum has an attractive shop with traditional toys, local history books & DVDs, rock salt & other crystals and themed gifts. There is also a small coffee shop selling tea, coffee, cold drinks, flapjacks and cookies. Unfortunately we do not serve meals, but our staff will be happy to direct you to places to eat nearby.
