Buy a Copy of New Book about John Henry Cooke

Our latest book. A memoir by John Henry Cooke, the first clerk to Winsford Local Board and solicitor for the promotion of the Brine Compensation Act. With additional notes and explanations by us. The book is a transcript of John Henry Cooke's own memoirs written by him in his own copy of the book he wrote describing how Cheshire celebrated Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Includes his enduring sadness following the death of two of his sons in the Great War. Two of his books were submitted to the royal family, both are still in the royal collection, with one being at kept at Sandringham.

JH Cooke 1848 - 1928 by Andrew P Fielding, Annelise M Fielding | Make Your Own Book

Buy a copy of Thomas Birtles Photographic Survey of Northwich 1891-2

Thomas Birtles' Photographic Survey of Northwich, Cheshire 1891-1892 by Andrew Fielding, Annelise Fielding | Make Your Own Book

Salt Making Demonstration 16 Sept 2015

We will be giving a demonstration of salt making at Holme Cultram Abbey on Wednesday 16 September, 2015.
Start 10am with a short talk. Fire lit at 10.45am with salt probably starting to be made about 10.45.
Summary talk at 3pm close 4.30pm

The brine will be evaporated in a small metal salt pan over a peat fire.

The demonstration is taking place during the community excavation at the Abbey by Grampus Heritage for the Solway Coast AONB and the Solway Wetlands Landscape Partnership

19 July 1985 - Righting the MaryRose

Thirty years ago working with Taylor Woodrow to turn the hull of the Mary Rose through 60 degrees (third from the right). Report photographs from TAYWOOD NEWS Sept. Vol 24 No.9  1985 p4-6.

Book Publication - Birtles Photographs of Northwich

We have almost completed our catalogue of the photographs taken by Thomas Birtles to record the condition of buildings in Northwich at the  passing of the Brine Compensation Act of 1891.
The book is being produced through Blurb on-demand publishing.
It should be available from  the end of August. 248 pages. Price £15.

Talk to ERIH Regional Meeting 10 June 2015

Talk booked to the regional meeting of the European Route of Industrial Heritage Wed 10 June, 2015
The Ecosal-UK Salt Route and the ERIH Themed Route for Salt.
Bursledon Brickworks Museum, Southampton.

Talk to Headlands to Headspace - 3 October 2015

Talk booked about Ecosal-UK and salt making to Headlands to Headspace
'Separating the Salt from the Sand in Morecambe Bay'
3rd October 2015
Silverdale.

Video of Blessing the Brine at Salt Sunday 2015

Video by Andrew Fielding of Ailsa and John Booth singing the Nantwich, Ascension Day song, Blessing the Brine.

The song was set to the tune by Nigel Creasey and Terry Clarke, colleagues of Ecosal-UK's Tom Lane (archaeologist and folk singer).
Performed at the Bishop of Birkenhead's Salt Sunday celebration on 17th May, 2015 held at Reaseheath College, Nantwich.
Nantwich Museum will help to revive the song as an annual event in Nantwich in years to come.

Salt Sunday and Blessing the Brine

Pics from todays Salt Sunday event.
Video to follow.

Salt hearth and Ecosal-UK table at Salt Sunday 2015.

Left to right
Andrew Fielding, Ailsa Booth, John Booth and Tom Lane.

John and Ailsa Booth sing the Nantwich
Ascension Day song 'Blessing the Brine'
Salt Sunday 2015

Graham Dodd, Trustee, Nantwich Museum.

Salt Sunday and Blessing the Brine 2015 Poster

Talk on 10 April to MRIAS

I shall be giving a talk to the Manchester Region Industrial Archaeology Society on Friday 10 April in a change to their published program.
Hear about Ecosal-UK and all things with a cultural heritage. Starts at 6pm
http://www.mrias.co.uk/

Blessing the Brine - Nantwich Ballad

We have been helping Nantwich Museum to find a tune for an old, mostly forgotten song Blessing the Brine. This was reputedly sung at Ascension Day at a holiday to bless the brine well in Nantwich.
The words are recorded in Egerton Leigh's book Cheshire Ballads and Tales published in 1867. The festival was recorded by Rev Joseph Partridge in 1774 and mentioned by Thomas Pennant in his Travels written in 1784.

Our colleague in Ecosal-UK, Tom Lane, is part of a folk group in Lincolnshire and with Nigel Creasey and Teri Clarke kindly arranged a traditional folk tune to the words.

Video of Blessing the Brine recorded by Nigel Creasey and Teri Clarke.



The song will be sung at the 2015 Salt Sunday event, designated by Bishop of Birkenhead, which will be held at Reaseheath College, Nantwich on Sunday 17 May, 2015, which this year is also Ascension Sunday the right day for the song.