History of Middlewich

Middlewich is one of the Wich towns in Cheshire, England.

Middlewich lies on the confluence of a number of natural and man made features: the Rivers Dane, Croco and Wheelock; the Shropshire Union and Trent and Mersey Canals; and the A533, A54 and A530 roads. It is an important location for salt manufacture, and has also been known for Cheshire cheese. The parish church for Middlewich is St. Michael and All Angels, which dates back to the 12^th century.

History

Prehistoric

In Whittaker's "History of Manchester" it is asserted that the Cornovii took Kinderton as their capital,cite book | title=The story of Bygone Middlewich | date=1936 | author=C F Lawrence] however this is unlikely. It is probable that the Cornovii did inhabit Kinderton for its salt making potential. [cite book | title='Congleton', A Topographical Dictionary of England | date=1848 | author=Institute of Historical Research| url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=50893#s23 | accessdate=2006-12-11] [cite web | title=The Celtic Tribes of Britain - The Cornovii | work=WWW.Roman-Britain.ORG | url=http://www.roman-britain.org/tribes/cornovii.htm | accessdate=2006-12-11]

Roman Middlewich

The town was founded by the Romans as "Salinae" on account of the salt deposits around it, as it was one of their major sites of salt production. Middlewich lies across the King Street fault, which follows King Street and then continues roughly following Brooks Lane. [cite web | title=19th-20th Century Middlewich | work=Salt making sites in Cheshire | author=George Twigg | url=http://www.cheshirehistory.org.uk/Papers/Salt.htm#2.1.8 | accessdate=2006-06-26] Salinae is taken to be the Roman name for "the salt workings" [cite web | title=SALINAE (CORNOVIORVM)| work=www.roman-britain.org | url=http://www.roman-britain.org/places/salinae_cornoviorum.htm | accessdate=2006-05-21] and it also appears to be the name given to Droitwich. During this time the Romans built a fort at Harbutts Field (SJ70216696), to the north of the town [cite web | title=SALINAE (CORNOVIORVM)| work=www.roman-britain.org | url=http://www.roman-britain.org/places/salinae_cornoviorum.htm | accessdate=2006-05-21] [cite web | title=Fieldwork 1999| work=Historic Environment Fieldwork Full Summary | url=http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/Planning/NaturalHistoricEnv/Historic/NHE_Historic_FieldworkFull.htm#1999 | accessdate=2006-05-21] , and recent excavations to the south of the fort have found evidence of further Roman activity [cite web | title=Fieldwork 2000| work=Historic Environment Fieldwork Full Summary | url=http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/Planning/NaturalHistoricEnv/Historic/NHE_Historic_FieldworkFull.htm#2000 | accessdate=2006-05-21] [cite web | title=Fieldwork 2001| work=Historic Environment Fieldwork Full Summary | url=http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/Planning/NaturalHistoricEnv/Historic/NHE_Historic_FieldworkFull.htm#2001| accessdate=2006-05-21] including a well and part of a preserved Roman road. A further excavation in 2004 in Buckley's Field [cite web | title=Roman dig - update| work=Cheshire Matters | url=http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/52AED909-26CE-4CFF-8438-5CEDC73B7CE7/0/NovCheshireMatterssp.pdf#page=4 | accessdate=2006-05-21] has found further evidence of Roman occupation. A Roman Road, King Street runs between Middlewich and nearby Northwich. It has been postulated that this was the initial route of the Roman conquest of the North West of England, [cite web | title=David Bird: The Events of A.D. 43: Further Reflections| work=BRITANNIA 33 2002, A JOURNAL OF ROMANO-BRITISH AND KINDRED STUDIES | url=http://www.romansociety.org/webbrit02.htm#bk15 | accessdate=2006-05-21] but evidence from pottery (in particular a scarcity of early Flavian samian ware suggests that this is unlikely. Middlewich was a junction between seven major Roman roads, and it has been known as 'Medius Vicus' (the town at the junction of the roads) in the past. [cite book | title=A List of the Latin Names of Places in Great Britain and Ireland| work=The Record Interpreter | author=Charles T. Martin | date=1911 | url=http://www.ipa.net/~magreyn4/recint2.htm#M | accessdate=2006-05-21]

The Normans

Before the Norman invasion of England in 1066, the area which is now known as Middlewich is thought to have had one brine pit, between the River Croco and the current Lewin Street.cite book | first=A.L. | last=Earl | title=Middlewich 900-1900 | year=1990 ] In the Domesday Book the area is described as being "wasted", having been cleared by King William around 1070 as an ""act of rage against his rebellious barons". [cite web | title=Cheshire and the Domesday Book | work=infokey.com | url=http://www.infokey.com/Domesday/Cheshire.htm | accessdate=2006-09-24] . The Domesday book states

Wich: Earl Hugh. Saltpan rendering 2 cartloads of salt.

[cite web |url=http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/cheshire2.html |title=Domesday book |accessdate=2008-06-27 |work= |date= ]

The English Civil War

On the 13 March, 1643 (N.S.), during the English Civil War, the town was the scene for the First Battle of Middlewich, between the Parliamentarians, under Sir William Brereton, and the Royalist supporters of King Charles I of England, under Sir Thomas Aston [ [http://www.thepeerage.com/p2836.htm#i28356 Sir Thomas Aston] ] .

The Second Battle of Middlewich took place on the 26 December 1643. In the battle around 200 Parliamentarians were killed, along with a number of Royalists under the command of Lord Byron.

Middlewich in 1850

"The following is adapted from [cite web | title=Middlewich 1850 | work=Northwich, Cheshire, UK. Local Genealogy and LocalHistory | url=http://www.geocities.com/pennytrueman/mdlwch.html | accessdate=2006-05-21] "

The 1841 census records Middlewich as a market town, having 323 houses, and 1242 inhabitants (an average of 3.8 people per dwelling) although since Middlewich extended into Kinderton and Newton the actual population figure was upwards of 3,800. Middlewich parish in 1850 comprised Byley-cum-Yatehouse, Clive or Cliff (now part of Winsford, Croxton, Kinderton-cum-Hulme, Middlewich, Minshull Vernon (near Crewe), Moresbarrow-cum-Parme, Newton, Occleston, Ravenscroft, Sproston, Stublach, Sutton, Wimboldsley, and Weaver, (now Winsford). The total population of the parish was 4,755.

Middlewich in 1850 comprised 24 acres of land, with its principal works being the surrounding farming district, a silk factory, and the salt works in Kinderton and Newton. A list of public houses was recorded and the following seven are still present today (although not necessarily in the same buildings): Boars Head; Golden Lion; King’s Arms; Old Cheshire Cheese; Red Lion (now Cats Bar); White Bear and White Horse.

Middlewich in 1887

"Middlewich, town, par., and township, Cheshire, 5½ miles SE. of North wich and 166 NW. of London by rail - par., 13,110 ac., pop. 5205; township, 37 ac., pop. 1325; town, 238 ac., pop. 3379; P.O., T.O., 1 Bank, 1 newspaper. Middlewich was held by the Earl of Mercia under Edward the Confessor. The town has an antique appearance. The trade is chiefly in salt, obtained from brine springs in the neighbourhood; there are small silk and fustian factories, and considerable quantities of fruit and vegetables are raised in the vicinity for the Liverpool and Manchester markets." [cite book | first=John | last=Bartholomew | title=Gazetteer of the British Isles | year=1887 ]

1889 football violence

Middlewich Station was host to a fight between Football supporters from Crewe and Nantwich in 1889 in which the platform occupied by Crewe fans was stormed by the Nantwich fans and many sustained injuries. [cite web | title=Historical examples of violent incidents in Britain to 1960 | work=Football Violence in Europe | url=http://www.sirc.org/publik/fvhist.html#_VPID_23 | accessdate=2006-05-22]

Middlewich in 1910-11 from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition

"Middlewich, an urban district in the Northwich parliamentary division of Cheshire, England, 166m N.W. of London, on the London & North Western railway. Pop. (1901) 4669. It lies in open country near the river Dane, having water communications by the Trent and Mersey canal, and a branch giving access to the Shropshire Union canal. The church of St Michael and All Angels is of various periods and contains numerous monuments. In the streets not a few old buildings remain, making for picturesqueness, and a number of the fine timbered houses in which Cheshire abounds are seen in the immediate neighbourhood. Middlewich shares in the salt industry common to several towns, such as Northwich and Winsford, in this part of the country; there are also chemical works and a manufacture of condensed milk."

The First and Second World Wars

In common with the rest of the United Kingdom, Middlewich suffered a decimation of its young male population during the First World War. The cenotaph near to the parish church (). [15 of the 16 names from the First World War are duplicated on the town cenotaph, as are both from the Second World War. The one not occurring on the town cenotaph is Arthur Harrison.]

The post war years

The period between the First and Second World Wars and following the Second World war saw extensive housebuilding within the town, with significant new houses being built in the King Street area to the north, Cledford to the south and the Nantwich Road/St. Annes Road region to the West.

The 1970s commenced with the building of a new road, St. Michael's Way, which allowed traffic moving from east to west through the town to bypass the main shopping area of Wheelock Street. During the construction of this bypass the Talbot public house on the town bridge was demolished, along with a number of shops opposite the Boar's Head public house, and houses on Lower Street/Pepper Street adjacent to St Michael and All Angels Church. This bypass successfully eased the flow of traffic away from the main shopping street, but the confluence of three major roads remains a bottleneck, which will be eased by a proposed eastern bypass. [cite web | title=Middlewich Eastern Bypass (Southern Section)| work=Envioronmental Statement, Non-Technical Summary | url=http://www.cw10residents.co.uk/shopping/standard/images/1212_76_file_finalntsbypassdtp9.pdf | accessdate=2006-05-22] Since the early 1980s Middlewich has seen a significant quantity of new housing development, initially in the Sutton Lane and Hayhurst Avenue areas. New developments have recently been built on the sites of old salt workings to the south of the Roman Fort at Harbutt's Field, and near to the Norman Baron's moated manor house at Kinderton Manor.

In common with many local towns, for example Holmes Chapel, Northwich and Winsford people are attracted to the area because of good road links via the M6 and the relatively low price and availability of suitable building land.

Middlewich town centre, unlike the centres of other local towns such as Northwich and Winsford, was not heavily remodelled as a shopping centre during the 1970s and consequently many of the original shops remain. This contrasts with, for example, Winsford, where the High Street was demolished and replaced by Winsford Shopping Centre. However Middlewich has not capitalised on the potentials of this , and since there are no large supermarkets in the town, it has failed in becoming a shopping destination for residents of other towns.

alt production in Middlewich

Salt manufacture has remained the principal industry for the past 2,000 years. Salt making is mentioned in the Domesday book, and by the 13th century there were approximately 100 "wich houses" packed around the towns two brine pits.cite book | first=Mary | last=Barry | title=Memories of Middlewich | year=1972] By 1908 there were nine industrial scale salt manufacturers in the town, with a number of open pan salt works close to the Canal, however salt manufacture in Middlewich is now concentrated in one manufacturer, British Salt, who sell under the name Saxa, and also through third parties e.g. supermarket own brands. Salt produced by British Salt in Middlewich has 57% of the UK market for salt used in cooking. [cite web | title=Factors affecting rivalry in the relevant market prior to the merger | work=A report on the acquisisition by British Salt Limited of New Cheshire Salt Works Limited | url=http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/2005/fulltext/505.pdf#page=37 | accessdate=2006-05-21]

Population changes

The figure to the right shows how the population of Middlewich rose through the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of this rise is attributable to a number of parishes being combined, for example parts of Newton were added to Middlewich in 1894, with Sutton having previously been added to Newton is 1892. These parish names live on in road names in Middlewich, for example Newton Bank and Sutton Lane. An Ordnance Survey map from 1882 shows the town with St. Michael's church in the centre. [cite web | title=Old Maps | url=http://www.old-maps.co.uk/oldmaps/index_external.jsp?easting=370771&northing=366366 | accessdate=2006-05-22]

Historical townships in Middlewich parish

The church originally served a number of townships other than Middlewich:
*Byley:Incorporated Croxton and Ravenscroft (see below) in 1892. In 1936 Byley was again extended to include part of Leese. The population in 1801 was 130, in 1851 was 110, in 1901 was 199 and in 1951 was 217. [cite web | title=Byley | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/byley.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Clive:Was incorporated into Winsford civil parish in 1936. The population of Clive in 1801 was 102, in 1851 was 155 and in 1901 was 147. [cite web | title=Clive | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/clive.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Croxton:Was added to Byley in 1892. The population in 1801 was 45, and in 1851 this had risen to 49. [cite web | title=Croxton| publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/croxton.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Kinderton cum Hulme:Most of the population of Kinderton cum Hulme was transferred to Middlewich in 1894, with the remainder being merged with Newton to create Kinderton civil parish. Hulme was transferred to Sproston in 1936, along with Higher Daleacre to Bradwall and the remainder to Middlewich. The population in 1801 was 404, in 1851 was 450 and in 1901 was 286. [cite web | title=Kinderton | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/kinderton.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Minshull Vernon:Includes the hamlets of Bradfield Green, Eardswich, Hoolgrave, Minshull Hill, Walley's Green and Weaver Bank. Minshull Vernon's population in 1801 was 357, in 1851 was 375, in 1901 was 302 and in 1951 was 267. [cite web | title=Minshull Vernon | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/minshullvernon.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]

*Mooresbarrow:Became part of Sproston civil parish in 1892. Its population in 1801 was 27 and in 1851 was 25. [cite web | title=Mooresbarrow | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/mooresbarrow.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Newton:Was a township in Middlewich parish which was extended in 1892 to include Sutton (see below). In 1894 the majority of Newton was added to Middlewich civil parish, with the remainder being transferred to Kinderton. New included the hamlets of Newton Bank and Newton Heath, and most of the old town of Middlewich. Its population in 1801 was 943 and in 1851 was 1500. [cite web | title=Newton | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/newtonbymiddlewich.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Occlestone:Was added to Wimboldsley civil parish in 1892. Its population in 1801 was 85 and in 1851 was 117. [cite web | title=Occlestone | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/occlestone.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Ravenscroft:Was added to Byley in 1892. Its population in 1801 was 13, and in 1851 was 10. [cite web | title=Ravenscroft | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/ravenscroft.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Sproston:Incorporated Moorsebarrow 1892, and in 1936 was extended again to included Hulme (from Kinderton cum Hulme). The population in 1801 was 150, in 1851 was 67, in 1901 was 167 and in 1951 was 216. [cite web | title=Sproston | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/sproston.html | accessdate=2007-10-28] Sproston is namechecked in the song Sproston Green on the album Some Friendly by British band The Charlatans (the band have recorded a number of albums at the "Big Mushroom" studios in Middlewich). [cite web | title=The Charlatans - Blackened Blue Eyes | work=Renegade | url=http://www.music-house.co.uk/renegade/single_information.php?SingleID=1095 | accessdate=2006-05-22]
*Stublach:Was added to Lach Dennis in 1891. Its population in 1801 was 68 and in 1851 was 67. [cite web | title=Stublach | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/stublach.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Sutton:Was added to Newton in 1892 (see above). Its population in 1801 was 30, and in 1851 was 23. [cite web | title=Sutton | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/sutton2.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Weaver:Became part of Darnhall civil parish in 1892. Its population in 1801 was 129 and in 1851 was 140. [cite web | title=Weaver | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/weaver.html | accessdate=2007-10-28]
*Wimboldsley:Was extended in 1892 to include Occlestone. The population of Wimboldsley was 106 in 1801, 86 in 1851, 183 in 1901, and in 1951 it was 189. [cite web | title=Wimboldsley | publisher = GENUKI| url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/wimboldsley.html | accessdate=2007-10-28] Wimboldsley is the principal entry for Middlewich in the BBC's 1986 Domesday project (grid reference SJ6863).

References

Further reading

# "Memories of Middlewich", Mary Barry
# "Roman Middlewich: A Story of Roman and Briton in Mid-Cheshire". T.J. Strickland, Graham Sumner, 2001
# "Middlewich, 900-1900", A L Earl, 1990
# "Middlewich, 1900-1950", A.L. Earl, 1994
# "Middlewich (Images of England Series)", B J Curzon, P Hurley
# "Picturesque Cheshire, Chester & the Welsh Border", T.A. Coward, 1903
# "Gazetteer of the British Isles", John Bartholomew. 1887

External links

;Historical links
* [http://www.middlewich.org.uk/roman_middlewich.htm Middlewich town council site on Roman Middlewich]
* [http://www.roman-britain.org/places/salinae_cornoviorum.htm Salinae]
* [http://www.cheshirehistory.org.uk/Papers/Salt.htm#PART%20II Salt making towns in Cheshire]
*cite web | url=http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/middlewich.html | title = Middlewich | publisher = GENUKI | accessdate=2007-10-28

;Other links
* [http://www.congleton.gov.uk/?t=468 Congleton Borough Council's Middlewich page]
* [http://www.midfest.org/index.htm Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival]
* [http://www.cw10residents.co.uk/index.html CW10 Residents Community Action Group]
* [http://www.middlewich.org/ Middlewich Community Church]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A6014297 BBC H2G2 site on Cheshire]