History of Middlewich facts for kids
Middlewich is a town in Cheshire, England. It's one of the "Wich towns," which are famous for salt.
Middlewich is special because it's where several natural and man-made features meet. These include the River Dane, River Croco, River Wheelock, and River Weaver. It also has the Shropshire Union Canal and Trent and Mersey Canal. Important roads like the A533, A54, and A530 also pass through.
Salt making has been a very important industry here for a long time. Middlewich was also known for Cheshire cheese. The main church in Middlewich is St. Michael and All Angels, which was built way back in the 12th century.
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History of Middlewich
Ancient Times
Long ago, a group of people called the Cornovii might have lived in a nearby area called Kinderton. They were probably interested in the salt found there.
Roman Middlewich
The ancient Romans founded Middlewich. They called it Salinae, which means "the salt workings," because it was one of their main places for making salt. The Romans built a fort at Harbutts Field, just north of the town. Recent digs have found signs of more Roman activity, like a well and part of an old Roman road. More discoveries were made in 2004.
A Roman Road called King Street runs between Middlewich and Northwich. Middlewich was a meeting point for seven major Roman roads. This is why it was once known as 'Medius Vicus', meaning 'the town at the junction of the roads'.
The Normans Arrive
Before the Normans invaded England in 1066, Middlewich likely had one salt pit. After King William attacked the area around 1070, the land was described as "wasted" in the Domesday Book. This meant it was left empty and damaged. The Domesday Book mentions: "Wich: Earl Hugh. Saltpan rendering 2 cartloads of salt."
The English Civil War
Middlewich was involved in the English Civil War. On March 13, 1643, the town saw the First Battle of Middlewich. The Parliamentarians, led by Sir William Brereton, fought against the Royalist supporters of King Charles I of England, led by Sir Thomas Aston. The Parliamentarians won this battle and took control of the town.
The Second Battle of Middlewich happened on December 26, 1643. This time, the Royalists, led by Lord Byron, defeated the Parliamentarians. About 200 Parliamentarians died. The Royalists then searched the town for food and valuables. After the battle, an outbreak of plague occurred.
Middlewich in the Past (1700s-1900s)
In 1789, Middlewich was described as a town named for being "in the Middle of two Wiches" (Nantwich and Northwich). Salt was still its main product. The town had a weekly market and was known for its friendly people.
By 1822, Middlewich was seen as an old town with a nice appearance. It was still known for salt and its market. The town was well-connected by the Trent and Mersey Canal and old salt roads. People could travel to many big cities like London, Liverpool, and Manchester by boat or coach.
In 1850, the town had about 1,242 people, but if you included nearby areas, the population was over 3,800. Farming, a silk factory, and salt works were the main jobs. Many of the old pubs from this time, like the Boar's Head and Golden Lion, are still around today.
Railways Arrive
Trains came to Middlewich in 1867 when a branch line was built from Sandbach to Northwich. This line was first used for carrying goods, especially salt. A railway station opened in Middlewich on July 1, 1868. Although the station closed in 1960, the railway line is still used by freight trains and sometimes special passenger trains.
Middlewich in the Early 1900s
By 1910, Middlewich was described as a town with good water connections through the Trent and Mersey Canal. The church of St Michael and All Angels was noted for its history. Many old, picturesque buildings, including timbered houses, could be seen. The salt industry was still very important, and there were also chemical works and a factory making condensed milk.
The World Wars
Like many towns in the United Kingdom, Middlewich lost many young men during the First World War. A cenotaph (a monument for those who died) near the church lists 136 men who died in this war. This was about 10% of the town's male population aged 15 to 45. Forty-two people from Middlewich died in the Second World War, and one more in the Korean War. The Brunner Mond salt works also has its own cenotaph for its workers who died in the wars.
Modern Middlewich
After the World Wars, many new houses were built in Middlewich. In the 1970s, a new road called St. Michael's Way was built. This helped traffic go around the main shopping area, Wheelock Street. Some old buildings were removed to make way for this road.
Middlewich has continued to grow with new housing developments. Many people are attracted to the area because of good road links, like the M6, and affordable land.
Unlike some nearby towns, Middlewich's town centre wasn't completely changed into a modern shopping mall in the 1970s. Because of this, many of the original shops remain, giving it a unique, old-fashioned feel.
Salt Production in Middlewich
Making salt has been the most important industry in Middlewich for the last 2,000 years! The Domesday book even mentions salt making here. By the 13th century, there were about 100 "wich houses" (places where salt was made) around the town's two salt pits.
In 1908, there were nine large salt factories. Today, salt making is mostly done by one company, British Salt. They sell salt under the name Saxa and also make salt for other brands. Salt from Middlewich makes up 57% of all the cooking salt used in the UK!
Population Changes
The graph shows how the number of people living in Middlewich has grown over the last 200 years. Part of this growth happened because some nearby areas, like parts of Newton and Sutton, became part of Middlewich. You can still see the names of these old areas in Middlewich's road names today, like Newton Bank and Sutton Lane.
Historical Townships in Middlewich Parish
The main church in Middlewich used to serve several smaller areas, or townships, around it. Over time, many of these townships became part of Middlewich or other nearby towns. For example, Byley, Clive, and Kinderton cum Hulme were some of these areas.
One interesting fact is that Sproston, another historical township, is mentioned in the song Sproston Green by the British band The Charlatans. The band even recorded some of their albums in Middlewich!
