Cheshire’s Lion Salt Works Museum in Northwich opens to the public this Friday, June 5, telling the story behind the county’s nationally important salt industry.

The opening marks the end of a four-year, £10.23m project by Cheshire West and Chester Council to restore the crumbling 19th century buildings – one of the last three historic open-pan salt-making sites in the world.

To mark its reopening, the museum is offering free entry to anyone in the world whose surname is Salt.

The ‘Salts of the Earth’ offer will be available for a year to anyone who can prove their surname is Salt by producing photo-ID in the form of a driving licence or passport.

There are estimated to be about 7,500 people in the UK with Salt as a surname and possibly thousands worldwide.

Nine people whose surname is Salt celebrated the re-opening of the Lion Salt Works Museum by posing for photograph at the press launch.

Heritage

The site’s unique industrial heritage and the fact that it presents the survival of salt practices passed hand-to-hand back to the Romans is recognised by the museum which has also been granted Scheduled Ancient Monument status.

This ‘living museum’ offers a fascinating and fresh insight into the story of salt, explaining the national significance of Cheshire’s salt industry and how it shaped the local people, economy and landscape.

It is brought to life with fun, interactive and imaginative educational exhibits, including a walk-in ‘subsiding house’. Theatrical lighting, sound and film also evoke the giant clouds of steam once produced by the site’s huge salt-boiling pans.

The extensive attraction comprises two restored pan houses and three restored stove houses. The Red Lion Pub at the entrance to the site – after which the salt works is named – has been incorporated as an education centre.

To appeal to a wide range of audiences, the museum also contains an established butterfly garden, imaginatively-designed play area and café. Visitors to the site have free access to these areas. A conference centre, located in one of the historic stove houses has already been the subject of pre-bookings from a wide range of community, business and specialist interest groups. Adjacent to the Trent & Mersey Canal, visitors arriving by canal can moor adjacent to the site, entering via a gate directly from the towpath.

For more details, visit: westcheshiremuseums.co.uk.