Nantwich, Cheshire

The origins of the creation and settlement of Nantwich date right back to the Roman era when the highly valuable commodity salt from Nantwich was used by Roman garrisons at Chester (Deva Victrix as it was better known) as a preservative and a condiment.

Salt from Nantwich, Cheshire has been used widely in the manufacturing of renowned Cheshire cheese and also in the tanning industry, both products of the dairy industry based in the Cheshire Plain around the town.

The Domesday Book mentions Nantwich and is recorded as having eight salt houses in the region. Nantwich also had its own castle and was the main capital of a barony for the earls of Chester, and of a hundred.

Nantwich is known as one of the few locations in Cheshire to be marked on the Gough Map, which dates right back between 1355-66.

Nantwich's salt industry really peaked in the late 16th century when there were a massive 216 salt houses in the region, but unfortunately the industry came to an end in 1856. Also the last tannery of Nantwich closed in 1974, but Nantwich's clothing industry remains important to the area and is highly renowned.

Through the years Nantwich has suffered several disasters, it was first detailed as an urban area at the time of the Norman conquest - the Normans unfortunately burned the town right down to the ground, leaving only one building standing.

Two hundred years later Nantwich was attacked on a regular basis over a lengthy period by marauders, bandits and rogues from Wales, while in 1583 the Great Fire of Nantwich raged for 20 days, destroying more or less all of the town, but the people of Nantwich would not be put back, Nantwich was rebuilt once again at a cost of £30,000 in 16th century currency, Even Queen Elizabeth I ( a major fan of Nantwich) donated £2,000, together with timber from the Her Majesty's royal forest.

Throughout History Nantwich has had good and bad times, but it still survives and carries on with great spur.