Helping Preserve Cheshire’s Salt Mining Heritage for Future Generations
DeepStore and Compass Minerals UK are proud to support the educational work of the Lion Salt Works Museum in Marston through the donation of rock salt from the Winsford rock salt mine.
The museum uses the donated fragments of rock salt in a variety of educational sessions for school children, adult learners and community groups. The samples help museum staff explain the difference between rock salt and brine, demonstrate how rock salt formed underground millions of years ago. As a result, visitors gain a better understanding of Cheshire’s famous salt industry and its lasting impact on the region.
A Thank You from Lion Salt Works
The team at Lion Salt Works recently shared their appreciation:
“A huge thank you from the staff at the Lion Salt Works to all at Compass Minerals / DeepStore for enabling this partnership and keeping the history of Cheshire salt alive for future generations!” – Lion Salt Works Team
The Story of the Lion Salt Works Museum
Opening in 1894, the Lion Salt Works in Marston, owned by the Thompson family was one of Cheshire’s leading salt works. For almost 100 years, the site produced salt that was distributed across the world, with a significant proportion exported for use in soap manufacturing in Lagos, Nigeria.
However, the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in the 1970’s, amongst other economic changes, led to the loss of a major export market. Consequently, this contributed to the closure of the works in June 1986. The Lion Salt Works was the last open-pan salt works in the UK.
Following its closure, Vale Royal Borough Council purchased the site and began plans to preserve and restore it as a working museum. In 1993, local supporters established the Lion Salt Works Trust as a registered charity, and together with Vale Royal Borough Council, successfully secured substantial funding to restore the historic site.
The Lion Salt Works Museum opened in 2015, offering a fascinating journey through the life of the country’s last open pan salt making site.
Today, the Museum provides:
- Education sessions to school children
- Self-guided tours
- Extracurricular activities such as Little Lions Go Wild!
- Saturday STEM Club
- Group tours with our wonderful Volunteers
- Community café space
- Training opportunities for adults with learning difficulties in partnership VIVO Care Choices
- Open pan salt making demonstrations and so much more!
DeepStore’s Connection to the Winsford Rock Salt Mine
DeepStore’s secure underground storage facility is located 150 metres below ground within the Winsford rock salt mine, the UK’s largest and oldest working rock salt mine, owned by Compass Minerals.
The rock salt mine’s naturally stable underground environment provides an ideal location for secure records management, specialist storage and information management solutions.
Supporting the Local Community
As a business deeply connected to the Winsford rock salt mine and the Cheshire community, DeepStore is committed to supporting organisations that educate, preserve heritage and create opportunities for future generations.
This partnership reflects DeepStore’s commitment to making a positive contribution beyond our core business activities. By supporting organisations such as the Lion Salt Works, we can help inspire curiosity, learning and share the history that lies beneath our feet.
“We are delighted that these rock salt samples are helping visitors better understand Cheshire’s mining heritage while supporting hands-on education and STEM learning opportunities.” – Jess Gosling, Marketing and Communications Manager, DeepStore
