Northwich

Northwich, a market-town of Cheshire, on the river Weaver and the old Watling Street, 18 miles ENE. of Chester. Underneath the town and all around it are great numbers of brine-springs, which have been used for the preparation of salt since before the Christian era. The town is being gradually undermined by the pumping of the brine, and the cavities so formed have caused many houses and buildings to fall. Several of those that still stand are propped up or bolted together. The streets are narrow and irregular, and many of the dwelling-houses are of an antique type. In 1670 rock-salt mines began to be worked, and now great quantities of this mineral are extracted. The town was taken by the parliamentarians in 1643. Pop (1881) 12,246; (1891) 14,914.