MURGATROYD'S MODEL FINDS NEW HOME

Photo; KERRY KIRWAN

In January 2014 this model of the Murgatroyd's Open Pan Salt Works in Brooks Lane, Middlewich,  was  removed from the Weaver Hall Museum (previously the Salt Museum) and brought back to Middlewich ready for the day when it can be put on permanent display in its home town and help to tell the story of salt making here.

Two of the people who helped dismantle the model were Bill Eaton and John Duncan, and the project was managed by the Town Council's Heritage Officer, Kerry Kirwan. 

For a while the model was on display in the Town Hall, but lack of space has meant that it has now had to be placed in storage.

The obvious place for the model would, of course, be the Murgatroyd's Pumping Station site which would mean that the miniature salt works could be displayed close to the site of the original full-size works.

Although the latter days of open pan salt making in the town were dominated by the three Seddon's works in Pepper Street, Brooks Lane and Wych-House Lane, Murgatroyd's works, also in Brooks lane, continued operating right up until 1966 and had the distinction of remaining under the same ownership throughout its life.

Below are links to some of the information on Murgatroyd's we have in the Middlewich Diary. 

Dave Roberts

SEE ALSO:

MURGATROYD'S SALT STORE ROOM

MURGATROYD'S SALT WORKS AERIAL VIEW
(includes notes from Kerry Kirwan)

PAN SMITHS AT MURGATROYD'S 1963

'BAGGIN' TIME AT MURGATROYD'S c1966

SALT WORKS BUILDINGS IN BROOKS LANE

MURGATROYD'S BRINE PUMPS (Middlewich Heritage Trust)

First published 11th February 2014
Updated and re-published 11th February 2017, 12th February 2018 and 12th February 2019.