Northwich is a town and
civil parishIn England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and in some places the lowest tier of local government, below districts and counties. A civil parish can alternatively be known as a town, village, neighbourhood or community by resolution of its parish council; and in a limited number of...
in the unitary authority of
Cheshire West and ChesterCheshire West and Chester is a unitary authority area with borough status, in the ceremonial county of Cheshire. It was established in April 2009 as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England, by virtue of an order under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health...
and the ceremonial county of
CheshireCheshire ; also known, archaically, as the County of Chester) is a ceremonial county in North West England. The traditional county town is the city of Chester, although Cheshire's largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Widnes, Runcorn, Macclesfield,...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It lies in the heart of the
Cheshire PlainThe Cheshire Plain is a flat, boulder clay plain situated entirely within Cheshire. It is bounded by the hills of North Wales in the west, and the Peak District of Derbyshire in the east. To the north west lies the Wirral Peninsula...
, at the confluence of the rivers
WeaverThe River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England....
and
DaneThe River Dane is a river mainly in Cheshire in the north west England.The river rises in Derbyshire, close to the source of the River Goyt just to the south west of Buxton, on Axe Edge Moor...
. The town is about east of
ChesterChester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and south of
WarringtonWarrington is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. The population of the borough of Warrington, including its 18 civil parishes, is around 194,000...
.
The area around Northwich has been exploited for its salt pans since
Roman timesRoman Britain was those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and about 410. The Romans referred to their province as Britannia...
, when the settlement was known as Condate. The town has been severely affected by salt mining with subsidence historically being a large issue. However, recent investment in mine stabilisation is set to change the town with the 'Northwich Vision' being a plan for future development work.
History
During Roman times Northwich was known as Condate, meaning "the confluence", probably due to its location at the meeting point of the rivers
DaneThe River Dane is a river mainly in Cheshire in the north west England.The river rises in Derbyshire, close to the source of the River Goyt just to the south west of Buxton, on Axe Edge Moor...
and
WeaverThe River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England....
.
Northwich can be identified through two contemporary Roman documents. The first of these is the
Antonine ItineraryThe Antonine Itinerary is a register of the stations and distances along the various roads of the Roman empire, containing directions how to get from one Roman settlement to another...
, a 3rd-century road map split into 14 sections. Two of these sections, or Itinerary, mention Condate, namely:
Itinerary II which describes "the route from the Vallum to the port of
RutupiaeRutupiæ was the Roman name for Richborough near Sandwich, Kent, which they founded when they landed in England in AD 43. A major port of Roman Britain , it has many phases of Roman remains, collectively known as Richborough Fort or Richborough Roman Fort,...
", or the route between
Hadrian's WallHadrian's Wall is a stone or turf and timber fortification built by the Roman Empire across the width of what is now northern England. Begun in 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was the first of two fortifications built across Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall in what is...
in northern England and
RichboroughRichborough is a settlement north of Sandwich on the east coast of the county of Kent, England. Richborough lies close to the Isle of Thanet....
on the
KentKent , originally Cantia, is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent...
coast; and
Itinerary X is called "the route from Glannoventa to Mediolanum" and details the route between
RavenglassRavenglass is a small coastal village and natural harbour in Cumbria, England. It is the only coastal town within the Lake District National Park. It is located at the estuary of three rivers: the Esk, Mite and Irt-History:...
fort,
CumbriaCumbria is a shire county in the North West of England. Cumbria came into existence as a county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
and
MediolanumMediolanum was a fort and small town in the Roman province of Britannia. Today it is known as Whitchurch, located in the English county of Shropshire....
(now
WhitchurchWhitchurch is a market town in Shropshire, England. It is the oldest continuously inhabited town in Shropshire. According to the 2001 Census, the population of the town is 8,673, with a more recent estimate putting the population of the town at 8,934...
,
ShropshireShropshire , alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties with a population density of 91/km²...
). The second document is the 7th-century
Ravenna Cosmology. Again this document refers to Condate between the entries for Salinae (now
MiddlewichMiddlewich is a market town in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is east of the city of Chester, east of Winsford, southeast of Northwich and northwest of Sandbach....
, Cheshire) and
RataeRatae Corieltauvorum was a town in the Roman province of Britannia. Today it is known as Leicester, located in the English county of Leicestershire.-Name:...
(now
LeicesterLeicester is a city and unitary authority area in the East Midlands of England. It is the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
,
LeicestershireLeicestershire or , abbreviation Leics.is a landlocked county in central England. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
), at the time the capital of the Corieltauvi tribe.
The Romans' interest in the Northwich area is thought to be due to the strategic river crossing and the location of the salt brines. Salt was very important in Roman society; the Roman word
salarium, linked employment, salt and soldiers, but the exact link is unclear. It is also theorised that this is the basis for the modern word
salaryA salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
. Another theory is that the word
soldier itself comes from the Latin
sal dare (to give salt).
See History of saltSalt's ability to preserve food was a foundation of civilization. It eliminated the dependence on the seasonal availability of food and it allowed travel over long distances. It was also a desirable food seasoning...
for further details. There is archaeological evidence of a Roman
auxiliary fortThe Latin word castra, with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military defensive position. As the word appears in both Oscan and Umbrian as well as in Latin, it probably descended from Indo-European to...
within the area of Northwich now known as "Castle" dated to AD 70. This and other North West forts were built as the Romans moved north from their stronghold in Chester.
The association with salt continues in the
etymologyEtymology is the study of the history of words and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages, and texts about the languages, to gather knowledge about how words were used at earlier stages, and...
of Northwich. The "wich" (or wych) suffix applies to other towns in the area - namely Middlewich,
NantwichNantwich is a market town in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich...
and
LeftwichLeftwich is a village in Cheshire, England. It lies just south of the town of Northwich, and is situated within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester....
. This is considered to have been derived from the Norse, "wic", for bay and is associated with the more traditional method of obtaining salt by evaporating sea water. Therefore a place for making salt became a wych-house; and Northwich was the most northern of the Wich towns in Cheshire.
The existence of Northwich in the early medieval period is shown by its record in the
Domesday BookThe Domesday Book is the record of the great survey of England completed in 1086, executed for William I of England, or William the Conqueror...
:
The
manorManorialism or Seigneurialism or Feudal Society was the organizing principle of rural economy and society widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe...
of Northwich belonged to the
Earls of ChesterThe Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been given to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Traditional power base...
until 1237 when the family line died out. Subsequently Northwich became a royal manor and was given to a noble family to collect tolls in exchange for a set rent.
That salt production continued throughout the centuries and can be seen through John Leland's description of the town in 1540:
Between 1642 and 1643, during the
English Civil WarThe English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. The first and second civil wars pitted the supporters of King Charles I against the supporters of the Long Parliament, while the third war saw fighting between supporters of...
, Northwich was fortified and garrisoned by
Sir William BeretonSir William Brereton, 1st Baronet was an English soldier, politician, and writer.-Life:Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford and at the Inns of Court. He was elected MP for Cheshire in 1628, where his seat was Handforth Hall. He worked hard to increase the value of his estates...
for the
Parlimentarians"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they were the supporters of Oliver Cromwell against King Charles I. Cromwell rose to prominence as a Member of Parliament and Parliamentary soldier, and eventually...
.
The salt beds beneath Northwich were re-discovered in the 1670s by employees of the local Smith-Barry family. The Smith-Barrys were looking for coal, but instead discovered rock salt, in the grounds of the family home,
Marburyright|thumb|Map of civil parish of Anderton with Marbury within the former borough of Vale RoyalAnderton with Marbury is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It had a population of 582 according to the 2001 census, and...
Hall, to the north of Northwich.
During the 19th century it became uneconomical to mine for the salt. Instead hot water was pumped through the mines, which dissolved the salt. The resultant brine was pumped out and the salt extracted from the brine. This technique weakened the mines and led to land
subsidenceSubsidence is the motion of a surface as it shifts downward relative to a datum such as sea-level. The opposite of subsidence is uplift, which results in an increase in elevation...
as they collapsed. Subsidence affected the town and the surrounding landscape. For example collapses in 1880 formed
Witton Flash as the River Weaver flowed into a huge hole caused by subsidence. Subsidence also allegedly accounts for many old
timber-framedTimber framing , or half-timbering, is the method of creating framed structures of heavy timber jointed together with pegged mortise and tenon joints.- Naming :...
houses in the town centre, which were better able to withstand the movement of the ground. Some houses were built on a base of steel girders which could be jacked up to level the house with each change in the underlying ground. The town's historical link with the salt industry is celebrated in its
Salt MuseumThe Salt Museum, Northwich, in Cheshire is the only museum in the United Kingdom dedicated to salt.The museum is currently located in the old workhouse, situated on the A533. It is a Grade II listed building.-Original Museums:...
which is today located in the town's old
workhouseUnder the Poor Law systems of England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland a workhouse was a place where people who were unable to support themselves could go to live and work. The Oxford English Dictionary's earliest reference to a workhouse dates to 1652 in Exeter. There is, however, some written...
.
In 1874, John Brunner and
Ludwig MondDr Ludwig Mond , was a German-born chemist and industrialist who took British nationality.-Education and career:...
founded
Brunner MondBrunner Mond is a British-based chemical company that is a subsidiary of Tata Chemicals Limited, part of the Tata Group of India. Tata Chemicals is the world's second largest producer of soda ash. The Brunner Mond plants also produce sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride and associated alkaline...
in Winnington and started manufacturing
soda ashSodium carbonate , , is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate; and is domestically well known for its everyday use as a water softener...
using the
SolvayThe Solvay process, also referred to as the ammonia-soda process, is the major industrial process for the production of soda ash . The ammonia-soda process was developed into its modern form by Ernest Solvay during the 1860s...
ammonia-soda process. This process used salt as a main raw material. The chemical industry used the subsided land for the disposal of waste from the manufacture of
soda-ashSodium carbonate , , is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate; and is domestically well known for its everyday use as a water softener...
. The waste was transported through a network of cranes and rails to the produce
limebeds. This was a dangerous alkaline substance and caused the landscape to be abandoned as unusable.
In 1975 Marbury Country Park was the first area to be reclaimed from dereliction and has become a popular recreational area. In 1987 more land was reclaimed to form Furey Wood and over later years,
Cheshire County Council'sCheshire County Council was a County Council, of the second highest level of United Kingdom Government for the residents of Cheshire. Founded in 1889, it ceased to exist on 1 April 2009, when it and the district councils in Cheshire were replaced by two unitary authorities; Cheshire West and...
Land Regeneration Unit reclaimed what is now known as Anderton Nature Park, Witton Flash, Dairy House Meadows, Witton Mill Meadows, and Ashton's and Neumann's Flashes. The area now extends to approximately 323 hectares of public space known as
Northwich Community WoodlandsNorthwich Community Woodlands is an area of 374 hectares of publicly-accessible countryside to the north of Northwich in Cheshire, England. Much of the land was formerly industrial and used for mining salt and manufacturing chemicals. The extraction of salt caused subsidence leading to the...
.
In February 2004 a £28 million programme to stabilise the abandoned salt mines underneath Northwich was begun. The work was funded by the
English PartnershipsEnglish Partnerships was the national regeneration agency for England, performing a similar role on a national level to that fulfilled by Regional Development Agencies on a regional level...
through its Land Stabilisation Programme, introduced to resolve issues associated with unstable mines around England.
The four mines identified for work were Baron's Quay, Witton Bank, Neumann's and Penny's Lane. These mines were chosen because their subsidence was causing problems for the town centre. The stabilisation plan involved removing millions of litres of brine from the four mines and replacing it with a mixture of
pulverised fuel ashPulverised fuel ash , is a by product of pulverised fuel fired power stations. The fuel is pulverised into a fine powder, mixed with heated air and burned. Approximately 18% of the fuel forms fine glass spheres, the lighter of which are borne aloft by the combustion process...
(PFA),
cementIn the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance which sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term "opus caementicium" to describe masonry which resembled concrete and was made from crushed...
and salt. The project was completed in late 2007.
Following the stabilisation of the mines, Northwich is to be developed in line with the 'Vision for Northwich'. The vision, if completed, will see the old concrete County Council buildings and Magistrates Court demolished and replaced with more modern buildings. Furthermore a
DebenhamsDebenhams plc is a Britishretailer operating under a department store format in the UK and franchise stores in other countries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.- History :...
store is planned to be built at Barons Quay along with a cinema and 40 new shops.
Governance
Northwich has been within the county boundaries of
CheshireCheshire ; also known, archaically, as the County of Chester) is a ceremonial county in North West England. The traditional county town is the city of Chester, although Cheshire's largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Widnes, Runcorn, Macclesfield,...
for a long time. At the time of the
Domesday surveyThe Domesday Book is the record of the great survey of England completed in 1086, executed for William I of England, or William the Conqueror...
(1086) Northwich was in the hundred of Middlewich, but by the 14th century it had become part of the
Northwich hundredThe Hundreds of Cheshire, as with other Hundreds in England were the geographic divisions of Cheshire for administrative, military and judicial purposes. They were introduced in Cheshire some time before the Norman Conquest...
. This probably happened during the reorganisation of the Hundreds in the 12th century. Northwich has been described as a borough from around 1288, though is no surviving borough charter.
Northwich originally constituted an area of only 13 acres at the confluence of the Rivers Weaver and Dane. The much larger township of Witton cum Twambrooks lay to the east,
LeftwichLeftwich is a village in Cheshire, England. It lies just south of the town of Northwich, and is situated within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester....
to the south, Castle Northwich to the south-west, and
WinningtonWinnington is a small, mainly residential area of the town of Northwich in Cheshire, England.-Industry:Winnington is the home to Brunner Mond UK chemical works, where soda ash is created. Polythene, the material used in many plastic items , was first made at the chemical works by R.O. Gibson and...
to the north-west .
The manor of Northwich was granted to the Stanley family, later
Earls of DerbyEarl of Derby is a title in the Peerage of England. The title was first adopted by Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby under a creation of 1139. It continued with the Ferrers family until the 6th Earl forfeited his property toward the end of the reign of Henry III and died in 1279...
in 1484, and stayed in the family’s hands until the late 18th century. A local board was founded on 26 June 1863 after the Local Government Act 1858 and it purchased the manor from Arthur Heywood Esq. in 1871. In 1875 the local boards for Northwich and Witton cum Twambrooks were amalgamanted, and the resultant district was further extended in 1880 to include the whole of Castle Northwich and parts of
HartfordHartford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies at the intersection of the A559 road and the West Coast Mainline and is less than 2 miles south west of the town of Northwich...
, Winnington and Leftwich. On 10 September 1894 these areas were united as the
civil parishIn England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and in some places the lowest tier of local government, below districts and counties. A civil parish can alternatively be known as a town, village, neighbourhood or community by resolution of its parish council; and in a limited number of...
of Northwich, served by Northwich Urban District Council .
The town was further enlarged in 1936 by the addition of parts of Winnington,
Lostock GralamLostock Gralam is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, situated to the east of Northwich. The civil parish of Lostock Gralam also includes the small hamlet of Lostock Green...
,
BarntonBarnton is a civil parish and village in the north-west of England, just outside the town of Northwich, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire. It lies north and east of the Trent & Mersey Canal which goes through two short tunnels to the west...
, Leftwich and
Rudheathright|thumb|200px|Map of civil parish of Rudheath within the former borough of Vale RoyalRudheath is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in the north west of England, approximately 2 miles east of Northwich.This...
, and again in 1955 when parts of
DavenhamDavenham is a rural village approximately south of the town of Northwich, part of the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The village is close to the A556 and A533 roads and both the River Dane and River Weaver...
, Hartford, Rudheath and Whatcroft were added
The
Local Government Act 1972The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
replaced the Urban District Council of Northwich with a new district (later borough) council:
Vale RoyalVale Royal was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district with borough status in Cheshire, England. It contained the towns of Northwich, Winsford and Frodsham.-Creation:...
. Vale Royal covered areas previously covered by Northwich UDC (Urban District Council), Northwich RDC (Rural District Council), Winsford UDC and parts of Runcorn RDC. Northwich Town Council now has the powers of a
parish councilIn England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and in some places the lowest tier of local government, below districts and counties. A civil parish can alternatively be known as a town, village, neighbourhood or community by resolution of its parish council; and in a limited number of...
and is now made up of five main districts of Leftwich, Northwich, Castle, Winnington and Witton.
Vale Royal Borough Council was abolished on 1 April 2009, and Northwich now falls within the new unitary authority of
Cheshire West and ChesterCheshire West and Chester is a unitary authority area with borough status, in the ceremonial county of Cheshire. It was established in April 2009 as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England, by virtue of an order under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health...
.
Between 1885 and 1983 Northwich gave its name to a
parliamentary consituencyNorthwich was a constituency in Cheshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election.- Members of Parliament :...
. Northwich was also split between the Tatton and Eddisbury constituencies until the formation of
Weaver ValeWeaver Vale is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
for the 1997 general election. The seat is currently held by
Mike HallMichael Thomas Hall, known as Mike Hall, is a British politician, and the Labour Member of Parliament for Weaver Vale.-Early life:...
(Labour).
The town coat of arms features the
LatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Roman conquest, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe...
mottoA motto is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used...
"Sal est Vita" meaning
"Salt is Life", which can be seen on the town's crest of arms. The town is twinned with
DoleDole is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France, of which it is a sub-prefecture.-History:Dole was the capital of Franche-Comté until Louis XIV conquered the region; he shifted the parlement from Dole to Besançon...
in France.
Geography
Northwich is situated in the Cheshire Plain at coordinates (53.255, -2.522). The town is between and above mean sea level. Northwich is surrounded by the following civil parishes, starting due north and proceeding in a clockwise direction:
Anderton with Marburyright|thumb|Map of civil parish of Anderton with Marbury within the former borough of Vale RoyalAnderton with Marbury is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It had a population of 582 according to the 2001 census, and...
,
Marstonthumb|right|200px|Map of civil parish of Marston within the former borough of Vale RoyalMarston is a village in the the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in the north west of England, on the River Weaver, close to Anderton and the Anderton Boat...
,
Winchamright|thumb|200px|Map of civil parish of Wincham in the former borough of Vale RoyalWincham is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated about three miles north of Northwich in the Cheshire Plain...
,
Lostock GralamLostock Gralam is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, situated to the east of Northwich. The civil parish of Lostock Gralam also includes the small hamlet of Lostock Green...
,
Rudheathright|thumb|200px|Map of civil parish of Rudheath within the former borough of Vale RoyalRudheath is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in the north west of England, approximately 2 miles east of Northwich.This...
,
DavenhamDavenham is a rural village approximately south of the town of Northwich, part of the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The village is close to the A556 and A533 roads and both the River Dane and River Weaver...
,
HartfordHartford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies at the intersection of the A559 road and the West Coast Mainline and is less than 2 miles south west of the town of Northwich...
,
Weaverhamright|thumb|200px|Map of civil parish of Weaverham within borough of Vale RoyalWeaverham is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. Just off the A49, it is just to the west of Northwich and south of the River...
,
BarntonBarnton is a civil parish and village in the north-west of England, just outside the town of Northwich, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire. It lies north and east of the Trent & Mersey Canal which goes through two short tunnels to the west...
.
Two rivers meet in the town centre, the
WeaverThe River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England....
and the
DaneThe River Dane is a river mainly in Cheshire in the north west England.The river rises in Derbyshire, close to the source of the River Goyt just to the south west of Buxton, on Axe Edge Moor...
. The town is surrounded by undulating
pasturePasture is land with low-growing vegetation cover used for grazing of livestock as part of a farm, or in ranching or other unenclosed pastoral systems. Prior to the advent of factory farming, pasture was the primary source of food for grazing animals such as cattle and horses...
. Subsidence and the collapse of underground saltworks has created Flashes and there are also local
meresMere in British English refers to a lake that is broad in relation to its depth, e.g. Martin Mere. A significant effect of its shallow depth is that for all or most of the time, it has no thermocline.-Derivation of the word:...
- for example, to the north is Budworth Mere and to the north east is Pick Mere.
The town is built on Lower
KeuperThe Keuper is a lithostratigraphic unit in the subsurface of large parts of west and central Europe. The Keuper consists of dolostone, shales or claystones and evaporites that were deposited during the Middle and Late Triassic epochs...
saliferous beds from which salt has been mined. Deposits of
alluviumAlluvium is soil or sediments deposited by a river or other running water...
run along the river valleys and cover most of the area of the town. Surrounding the town is deposits of boulder clay and glacial sand and gravel can be found to the north-west.
The climate is generally
temperateIn geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally mild, rather than extreme hot or cold. But in continental areas, such as central North America the variations between summer...
with few extremes of temperature or weather. The mean average temperature is slightly above average for the United Kingdom as is the average amount of sunshine. The average annual rainfall is slightly below the average for the UK. There are few days when snow is lying on the ground, although there are some days of air frost.
Demography
The population of Northwich in 1664 has been estimated as 560. The population of Northwich over the last 200 years has been:
| Population of Northwich since 1801 |
| Year |
1801 |
1811 |
1821 |
1831 |
1841 |
1851 |
1861 |
1871 |
1881 |
1891 |
1901 |
1911 |
1921 |
1931 |
1951 |
1961 |
1971 |
1981 |
1991 |
2001 |
| Population |
1,338 |
1,382 |
1,490 |
1,481 |
1,368 |
1,377 |
1,190 |
1,244 |
12,256 |
14,914 |
17,611 |
18,151 |
18,381 |
18,732 |
17,489 |
19,592 |
18,136 |
17,098 |
18,316 |
19,259 |
| Sources: |
The 2001 Census shows the population of Northwich to be 19,259. This was composed of 9,761 (50.7%) males and 9,498 (49.3%) females. There were 8,253 households. This makes the average household size 2.32, which is slightly below the national average of 2.36.
Economics
Northwich has been described as having a
marketA market is any one of a variety of different systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby persons trade, and goods and services are exchanged, forming part of the economy. It is an arrangement that allows buyers and sellers to exchange things...
since at least 1535, when it was described as a market town by Leland, but there is no surviving charter. The town still has a market today, which is earmarked for refurbishment as part of the Northwich Vision plans.
The town's economy was dominated by the salt industry. However a list of tolls for goods crossing over Northwich bridge in 1353 shows goods coming into the town, including a wide range of carcasses, fleeces, hides and skins, cloth, fish, alcoholic drinks, cloth, dairy products, building materials, household goods, metals and glass, and millstones. This indicates a much wider economic base to medieval Northwich than just the salt trade. Documentary evidence also exists for a
millA gristmill or grist mill is a building in which grain is ground into flour, or the grinding mechanism itself. In many countries these are referred to as corn mills or flour mills.- Early history :...
from 1332 onwards and there is evidence for more than one mill from 1343.
Allied to the extraction of salt was a bulk chemical industry, which became concentrated at the three
ICIImperial Chemical Industries is a British chemical subsidiary of a Dutch conglomerate and one of the largest chemical producers in the world. It is based in Slough, UK. It produces paints and speciality products...
sites at Winnington, Wallerscote and Lostock. The first industrially practical method for producing polythene was accidentally discovered at the Winnington works in 1933.
Bakers Frank Roberts & Sons have been associated with the town since 1887 and continues to be based near the town at
Rudheathright|thumb|200px|Map of civil parish of Rudheath within the former borough of Vale RoyalRudheath is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in the north west of England, approximately 2 miles east of Northwich.This...
on the A556.
There are many contemporary major employers in nearby
Rudheathright|thumb|200px|Map of civil parish of Rudheath within the former borough of Vale RoyalRudheath is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in the north west of England, approximately 2 miles east of Northwich.This...
and Hartford.
Based on the 2001 Census, Northwich had 13,928 people aged between 16 and 74. Of these, 8,908 (64.0%) people were categorised as economically active; 4,268 (30.6%) were economically inactive; 455 (3.3%) were unemployed.
Culture and community
The town has two key events a year. Over the August Bank Holiday Weekend Northwich Festival is held at Moss Farm Sports Complex. Featuring 4 days of music and sport with the main attraction for the Monday being the UK Strongman-North Competition. The
ThundersprintThundersprint is a motorcycle rally held in May annually. It is held in Northwich, a town in Cheshire, England. Attendance is estimated to be 130,000 over the two days.The event has been running since 1997...
motorcycling event is held every May
Bank HolidayA bank holiday is a public holiday in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. There is some automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population not employed in essential services A bank holiday is a public holiday in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. There is some...
in Northwich. This event attracts over 130,000 people over the two days, and claims to be the world's biggest street bike party.
Northwich Memorial Hall was opened in 1960 and hosts a range of activities, including the Purple Cactus Comedy Club. The
Harlequin TheatreHarlequin Theatre is a theatre in Northwich, Cheshire. It is also the public name of the Harlequin Players Club. It is also the home of the Northwich Folk Club....
produces six plays each year, and is also the home of Northwich Folk Club.
The Regal cinema was closed in 2007. However there are plans for a new cinema as part of the Northwich Vision redevelopment of Baron's Quay.
Northwich has a rich musical history, with a number of locals being part of bands such as
PlaceboPlacebo are an alternative rock band formed in London in 1994, currently consisting of Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Forrest. To date, they have released six studio albums, six EPs and twenty-seven singles...
, which provided the soundtrack to the film
Cruel IntentionsCruel Intentions is a 1999 American feature film starring Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair. The movie is a comedic and dramatic appropriation of the 18th-century French epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Laclos, but unlike other modern film...
.
Tim BurgessTimothy Allan Burgess is the lead singer of the British rock/indie act The Charlatans. They have their origins in the Mad-chester boom of the late 80's early 90's...
from the Charlatans lived in Northwich. The band were originally managed by Steve Harrison from the Omega Music record store in the town.
Northwich has its own fictional hero in the form of the ultimate ghost-hunter, James Boag-Munroe. The creation is the work of local Horror author Stuart Neild. The first novel, titled
A Haunted Man, features Boag-Munroe's adventures in the haunted salt mines that run underneath Northwich, combining fact with supernatural fiction. More novels are on the way featuring Northwich and other
North WestNorth West England is one of the nine official regions of England. It has a population of 6,853,200 and comprises five counties of England – Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire....
locations as the backdrops to the novels. A Hollywood film and television series is also in development based on the books.
Northwich has two local newspapers: the Northwich Guardian, published by
NewsquestNewsquest is the second largest publisher of regional and local newspapers in the United Kingdom with 300 titles in its portfolio. Newsquest is based in Weybridge, Surrey and employs a total of more than 8,500 people across the UK...
, and the Northwich Chronicle, published by
Trinity MirrorTrinity Mirror plc is a large British newspaper and magazine publisher. It is Britain's biggest newspaper group, publishing 240 regional papers as well as the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, People, Sunday Mail and Daily Record. Its headquarters are at Canary Wharf in London...
. A
radio stationRadio broadcasting is an audio broadcasting service, broadcast through the air as radio waves from a transmitter to an antenna and a thus to a receiving device. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast common programming, either in syndication or simulcast or both...
,
Cheshire FMCheshire FM is a community radio station serving the towns of Northwich, Middlewich and Winsford in the English county of Cheshire, from its studios in Winsford, and can be heard on 92.5 FM.-Background:Cheshire FM launched at 8:00 a.m. on March 30, 2007...
, covers the mid-Cheshire area including Northwich.
Northwich is the home of two non-league football teams,
Northwich VictoriaNorthwich Victoria Football Club is an English football club based in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire.Northwich are an old club. Records go back to 1874...
and Witton Albion. The town has two rugby union sides
Northwich RUFCFormed in 1965 as Mid Cheshire College, changing to Northwich RUFC in 1989. Running 3 senior, 1 women's and 10 junior sides. This club has won the Cheshire community club of the year in 2003/4/5 and the BBC Northwest community club award in 2006....
also hosting a rugby league side called Northwich Stags RL and
Winnington ParkWinnington Park Rugby Football Club is situated in Winnington, Northwich in Cheshire, England. The club runs both rugby union and rugby league teams. Both codes play at Winnington Park Rugby ground.-Rugby Union:...
.
Landmarks and religious sites
The parish church is known as
St. Helen's WittonSt Helen Witton Church, Northwich is in the centre of the town of Northwich, Cheshire, England . It is a Grade I listed building. The church is now known as "St Helen's, Witton" or "Northwich Parish Church". It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry...
. The church initially developed as a
chapel of easeA chapel of ease is a church building other than the main church of a parish.- Reasons for chapels of ease :...
associated with the parish of
Great BudworthGreat Budworth is a civil parish and village, approximately 4 miles north of Northwich, within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire. The Grade I listed St Mary and All Saints Church is located in the village. The village is a popular location for...
to serve the local community, known as the Chapel of Witton. There is no known date for the creation of this chapel, but it is thought to have existed in the 13th century. None of this building exists in the current church. There is no documentary evidence to indicate the dates of the older parts of the current building. However stones in the fabric of the porch carry inscriptions attributed to "Ricardus Alkoke Capellanus". This name matches documents concerning land in Northwich and
Lostock GralamLostock Gralam is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, situated to the east of Northwich. The civil parish of Lostock Gralam also includes the small hamlet of Lostock Green...
dated 1468, but this cannot be used to date the church accurately.
It was not until 7 August 1900 that the parish of Witton (otherwise Northwich) was formed from parts of
Great BudworthGreat Budworth is a civil parish and village, approximately 4 miles north of Northwich, within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire. The Grade I listed St Mary and All Saints Church is located in the village. The village is a popular location for...
,
DavenhamDavenham is a rural village approximately south of the town of Northwich, part of the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The village is close to the A556 and A533 roads and both the River Dane and River Weaver...
and other surrounding parishes.
The present St Wilfrid's (Roman Catholic) church was built in 1866.
The Northwich Union Workhouse opened in 1837 following the
Poor LawThe English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late medieval and Tudor laws before being codified in 1587–98...
Amendment of 1834 that standardised the system of poor relief throughout Britain. The building is now the
Salt MuseumThe Salt Museum, Northwich, in Cheshire is the only museum in the United Kingdom dedicated to salt.The museum is currently located in the old workhouse, situated on the A533. It is a Grade II listed building.-Original Museums:...
.
The Dock Road Edwardian
Pumping StationPumping stations are facilities including pumps and equipment for pumping fluids from one place to another. They are used for a variety of infrastructure systems, such as the supply of water to canals, the drainage of low-lying land, and the removal of sewage to processing sites.A pumping station...
is a Grade II Listed Building originally built by Northwich Urban District Council in 1913. For over 60 years it was used for pumping sewage from parts of Northwich to the Wallerscote Treatment Works. Before it was built, untreated sewage was discharged directly into the River Weaver, causing widespread pollution. The station was equipped with two single-cylinder Crossley gas-fired engines and two Haywood Tyler triplex lift and force pumps, capable of pumping 9,600 gallons per hour. In later years, electric pumps, capable of pumping 36,000 gallons per hour replaced these but the originals have been restored. The current owners are
United UtilitiesUnited Utilities is a British utility company with its headquarters in Warrington which operates mainly in the North West England, with 9,000 employees. It serves over 20 million people around the UK and worldwide...
(previously
North West WaterNorth West Water was a water supply company serving north west England. It was originally the North West Water Authority, one of ten regional authorities created by the Water Act 1973. In 1989 it became North West Water plc, and was privatised...
). The station is open to the public.
Two
swing bridgeA swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring at or near to its center, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration below...
s, Hayhurst Bridge built in 1898, and Town Bridge built in 1899, cross the Weaver at Northwich. The bridges were the first two electrically powered swing bridges in Great Britain and were built on floating
pontoonsA pontoon is a flat-bottomed boat or the floats used to support a structure on water. It may be simply constructed from closed cylinders such as pipes or barrels or fabricated as boxes from metal or concrete. These may be used to support a simple platform, creating a raft. A raft supporting a...
to counteract the mine subsidence. They were designed by Colonel John Saner.
The Floatel Northwich is moored on the Weaver near the confluence of the two rivers, but was closed when the owners,
The Real Hotel Company plcThe Real Hotel Company, whose origin fates back to 1877, owned, leased and managed over 55 hotels with almost 5,000 bedrooms throughout the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Belgium until its financial collapse in 2009. It focused both at the premium limited service and at the full service...
, went into administration in January 2009. It was the UK's only floating hotel.
Transport
The key historical mode of transport is water. By 1732 the River Weaver was improved from Frodsham Bridge to Winsford Bridge and eventually allowed vessels up to to travel up to Northwich Bridge. The
Trent and Mersey CanalThe Trent and Mersey Canal is a 93.5 miles long canal in the East Midlands, West Midlands, and North West of England. It is mostly a "narrow canal" but east of Burton upon Trent, it is a wide canal .-History:As its name implies, the Trent and Mersey...
, opened in 1775, passed to the north of Northwich because of objections from the trustees of the Weaver Navigation. However, the canal passed salt deposits near the village of
Marstonthumb|right|200px|Map of civil parish of Marston within the former borough of Vale RoyalMarston is a village in the the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in the north west of England, on the River Weaver, close to Anderton and the Anderton Boat...
, and many of the later salt mines were based along its banks including the
Lion Salt WorksThe Lion Salt Works is the last remaining open pan saltworks in Cheshire, England. It closed as a works in 1986 and is now preserved as a museum...
. The
Anderton Boat LiftThe Anderton Boat Lift near the village of Anderton, Cheshire, in north-west England provides a vertical link between two navigable waterways: the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal....
was opened in 1875 to connect the canal and river systems. It was fully restored in 2002 and now houses a visitor centre.
The road system around Northwich can be dated back to the Roman times. The
A556The A556 is a road in England which extends from the village of Delamere in Cheshire and the village of Bowdon in Greater Manchester. The road contains a mixture of single and dual carriageway sections and forms a large part of the route between Manchester and Chester...
and A559 follow the route of the Roman road that runs from Chester to York. The A556 diverts away from the route of the Roman road following a new route to the south of the town acting as the town's bypass. The Chester to Manchester road became a Turnpike in 1769. The
A530The A530 road is a road linking the A525 east of Whitchurch, Shropshire, England with the A559 east of Northwich, in Cheshire. The road follows the route:*A525*Nantwich*Crewe*Middlewich*A559...
, known as King Street, also passes near to the town, and this follows the route of the Roman road that connected Warrington and Middlewich. The old route to Warrington and the north from Middlewich, however, was replaced by a new route through Knutsford, which became a turnpike in 1753. Northwich is connected to the motorway network to the north of the town via the A559 onto the
M56 motorwayThe M56 is a motorway, also known as the North Cheshire motorway, in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, England. It runs from Junction 4 of the M60 to Dunkirk, Cheshire and is 35 miles in length...
; and to the east of the town via the A556 at Junction 19 of the
M6 motorwayThe M6 motorway is the longest motorway in the United Kingdom. It runs from junction 19 of the M1 in Catthorpe near Rugby in central England, passes between Coventry and Nuneaton, through Birmingham, Walsall and Stafford and near the major cities of Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent...
.
The railway came to the town in 1863 when the
Cheshire Midland RailwayAct passed 14 June 1860 to build a railway from Altrincham on the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway to Northwich. The line would be 12 miles 65 chains in length...
constructed its line from
KnutsfordKnutsford is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in North West England...
. The
West Cheshire RailwayThe West Cheshire Railway was an early railway company based in Cheshire England.-Early Company history:The WCR was incorporated on 11 July 1861. In 1861, the WCR requested powers to construct a line from Northwich to Chester, with a branch to Helsby, but parliamentary approval was received only...
built its line to
HelsbyHelsby is a large village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. At the 2001 Census, Helsby had a population of 4,701-Geography:...
in 1869. Passenger trains from Northwich to Chester via
DelamereDelamere railway station opened on 22 June 1870. It serves both the village of Delamere and Delamere Forest in Cheshire, England. The station is 15 km east of Chester on the Mid-Cheshire Line....
commenced in 1875. The route through Northwich is now marketed as the
Mid-Cheshire lineThe Mid-Cheshire Line is a railway line in the north-west of England, between Chester and Manchester.- History :The Mid Cheshire line has its origins in railways promoted by three separate railway companies in the 19th century. The Cheshire Midland Railway was opened to passengers between...
.
Northwich railway stationNorthwich railway station serves the town of Northwich in Cheshire, England. The station has two platforms and is staffed in the mornings only....
, last rebuilt in 1897, is on the line from
ChesterChester railway station is a railway station in the city of Chester, England. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although Merseyrail, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains also run services there. It is situated to the north-east of the city centre...
to Manchester Piccadilly. There are also stations within close vicinity at
GreenbankGreenbank railway station serves the village of Hartford, Cheshire as well as the Castle area of Northwich, Cheshire, England. The station is situated on the A559 road from Northwich to Chester.-The station today:...
, also on the Mid-Cheshire line, and
HartfordHartford railway station is in the village of Hartford, in Cheshire, England. It is situated on the A559 road approximately two miles west of the town of Northwich.-Current station operations:...
(on the
West Coast Main LineThe West Coast Main Line is a busy mixed-traffic railway route in the United Kingdom. It provides fast, long-distance Intercity passenger services between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and southern Scotland....
).
There are bus routes between Northwich and a number of local towns, including Weaverham,
HartfordHartford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies at the intersection of the A559 road and the West Coast Mainline and is less than 2 miles south west of the town of Northwich...
, Crewe, Warrington, Kelsall and Chester.
Education
Northwich and its surroundings has a number of schools and colleges.
Sir John Deane's CollegeSir John Deane's College is a sixth form college in Northwich, Cheshire, UK. It was formerly Sir John Deane's Grammar School, which was founded in 1557.-History:...
is now a
sixth form collegeA sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 19 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels...
, but was originally formed as a grammar school in 1557. The school was originally known as Witton Grammar School and was erected close to Witton Chapel. The school moved to its current location, to the south of the town, in 1907-08. There is now also
further educationFurther education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
available through
Mid Cheshire CollegeMid-Cheshire College is a government funded further education college. Its main campus is in the village of Hartford, close to Northwich, Cheshire. John Reilly is the college Principal. John joined the college in 2002 after leaving the Tameside College in East Manchester where he was Director of...
's London Road Studios.
During the 19th century many new schools were founded and by 1850 twelve 'academies' were recorded in the area. The town is now served by
County High School LeftwichThe County High School Leftwich is a small sized Media Arts co-educational comprehensive school that serves approximately 950 students between 11 to 16 years of age. It is next to the A556 bypass at the A533 junction, and near the River Dane.-Admissions:...
, a specialist media arts college, while
Rudheath Community High SchoolRudheath Community High School is a medium sized non-denominational co-educational comprehensive school that educates approximately 762 children between 11 and 16 years of age. It is located in the village of Rudheath, near Northwich in Cheshire, England. The current headteacher is Mr M Hayhurst...
, a specialist performing arts college and Hartford High School both admit pupils from Northwich. There are also several primary schools in the area.
St. Nicholas Catholic High SchoolSt. Nicholas Catholic High School is in Hartford, near Northwich, in Cheshire, England. It also has a Sixth Form. Both the main school and the Sixth Form perform very well in Ofsted reports: the Sixth Form was described as "good" in the last report...
is also in the local vicinity, and performs well on national exam boards, coming second in the whole of
CheshireCheshire ; also known, archaically, as the County of Chester) is a ceremonial county in North West England. The traditional county town is the city of Chester, although Cheshire's largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Widnes, Runcorn, Macclesfield,...
.
In November 2005, as part of the Northwich Vision, a refurbishment of the town's railway station included a Centre called
Zone that promotes lifelong learning by offering people the opportunity to access a range of online and taught courses.
Notable people
Sir John Brunner, 1st Baronet and
Ludwig MondDr Ludwig Mond , was a German-born chemist and industrialist who took British nationality.-Education and career:...
lived at
Winnington HallWinnington Hall is in Winnington, now a suburb of Northwich, Cheshire, England . It is a Grade I listed building. It consists of an older timber framed wing and a newer wing built in stone....
in the town after founding their chemical firm
Brunner MondBrunner Mond is a British-based chemical company that is a subsidiary of Tata Chemicals Limited, part of the Tata Group of India. Tata Chemicals is the world's second largest producer of soda ash. The Brunner Mond plants also produce sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride and associated alkaline...
in 1873.
In politics,
John GreenwayJohn Robert Greenway is a British politician and Conservative Member of Parliament for Ryedale.-Early life:John Greenway was born in Northwich, Cheshire and was educated locally at the Sir John Deane's Grammar School and The College of Law, London...
, MP for
RyedaleRyedale is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, was born in the town and educated at Sir John Deane's college.
In the literary and media world, the horror author Stuart Neild was born in the town in 1970 and
Robert WestallRobert Atkinson Westall is the author of many books, mostly fiction for children, though also for adults, and non-fiction. Many of his novels while supposedly aimed at a teenage audience deal with many complex, dark and in many ways adult themes. Westall's novel "The Wheatstone Pond" was adapted...
, the children's author, also lived in the town and taught at Sir John Deane's Grammar School. One of his pupils was the crime writer
Martin Edwards (author)Kenneth Martin Edwards, commonly known as Martin Edwards is a British crime novelist, critic and solicitor.- Biography :...
, whose father Ken Edwards was a director and later President of Northwich Victoria Football Club and wrote their history. Film producer and writer
Sue BirtwistleSue Birtwistle is a producer and writer of television drama. She was born in Northwich, Cheshire, England, and studied drama and English at Coventry College of Education...
was also born in the town.
The composer, songwriter and author
Rupert HolmesRupert Holmes is an American-British composer, singer-songwriter, musician and author of plays, novels and stories. He is best known for his number one pop hit "Escape" in 1979, his Tony Award winning musical Drood and his more recent Broadway musical Curtains.-Life and...
was born in the town in 1947 before moving to New York. Northwich is also the home town of
Steve HewittSteven James Hewitt was the drummer for the band Placebo between mid-1996 and October 2007. He was born in Northwich, Cheshire, England. Prior to joining Placebo, Hewitt was a member of various bands such as Electric Crayons, K-Klass, The Mystic Deckchairs, Boo Radleys and Breed. He also worked as...
, the drummer for the band
PlaceboPlacebo are an alternative rock band formed in London in 1994, currently consisting of Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Forrest. To date, they have released six studio albums, six EPs and twenty-seven singles...
and the adopted home of
Tim BurgessTimothy Allan Burgess is the lead singer of the British rock/indie act The Charlatans. They have their origins in the Mad-chester boom of the late 80's early 90's...
, lead singer of The Charlatans. Tommy McKenzie, name checked in
the BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960 who became one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music...
song
Eleanor Rigby"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by The Beatles, originally released on the 1966 album Revolver. The song was primarily written by Paul McCartney...
as Father McKenzie, was compère at Northwich Memorial Hall.
On the industrial front, William James Yarwood was born in 1851 and, after serving an apprenticeship with ironfounders in Northwich, he was appointed as a blacksmith with the River Weaver Navigation. In 1896 he became the proprietor of the former John Thompson shipbuilding business, based on the west bank of the River Weaver, a few hundred yards from the town centre of Northwich.
Jennifer Saunders attended Leftwich High School in Northwich as a child.
Twin town
Northwich is
twinnedSister cities, also known as town twinning, is an agreement between towns, cities and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties...
to :
-
DoleDole is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France, of which it is a sub-prefecture.-History:Dole was the capital of Franche-Comté until Louis XIV conquered the region; he shifted the parlement from Dole to Besançon...
, FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
See also
- Northwich category
- Salt in Cheshire
Cheshire is a county in North West England. Rock salt was laid down in this region some 220 million years ago, during the Triassic geological era. Seawater moved inland from an open sea, creating a chain of shallow salt marshes across what is today the Cheshire basin...
- Brunner Mond
Brunner Mond is a British-based chemical company that is a subsidiary of Tata Chemicals Limited, part of the Tata Group of India. Tata Chemicals is the world's second largest producer of soda ash. The Brunner Mond plants also produce sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride and associated alkaline...
- Winnington Hall
Winnington Hall is in Winnington, now a suburb of Northwich, Cheshire, England . It is a Grade I listed building. It consists of an older timber framed wing and a newer wing built in stone....
External links