THE masters and inmates of a 19th-century workhouse will come under investigation in a new exhibition, writes Liz Walmsley.

Workhouse Stories will tell the tale of those who passed through the doors of the Northwich Union Workhouse on London Road which is now the Salt Museum.

Built in 1839, the workhouse was created to provide a refuge of sorts to hundreds of paupers whose poverty left them destitute and sentenced to a life of breaking up stones or grinding corn.

Museum archivists will help lead visitors through historic records as part of the Archives Awareness Month at the museum.

The Salt Museum exhibition will be open between 2-5pm on November 16.

For more information call 01606 271640 or email tom.hughes@cheshire.gov.uk.

Bags roadshow

VALE Royal Borough Council is handing out reusable bags at a number of roadshows across Mid Cheshire.

The lightweight green and black bags come with handy pocket-size pouches to stow them in.

And as an added incentive, if you are spotted using your new reusable bag between December 1 and 5, you could be the lucky winner of supermarket shopping vouchers.

The roadshows are part of the council’s waste minimisation initiative. The roadshows will take place at the following venues and times:

l November 17 - Morrisons, Winsford from 10am-4pm

l November 18 - Northwich town centre from 10am-4pm

l November 24 - Winsford Cross Shopping Centre from 10am-4pm

l November 28 - Sainsbury’s, Northwich from 10am-4pm.

For more information contact Liz Ellis 0800 435199 or visit www.valeroyal.gov.uk.