Derricks, circa 1900
(photo courtesy Elizabeth Ellis)
Evaporating plant and finishing sheds
(photo courtesy Tommy Jones)
Walney Saltworks
The search for coal on Walney Island in the late 19th century resulted in the discovery of salt just south of Biggar village around 1891. Few actual records have survived but we do know that the Barrow Salt Company (originally to be called the Barrow and Liverpool Salt Co.) was formed 5 years later. At the time much of the expertise in this industry would have been based in and around Cheshire so it was likely that the post of Walney Salt Works Manager was advertised there. Was this how Albert Yarwood came to be in Barrow at this particular time?
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When production began in 1897 expectations were high, the salt works was intended to substantially increase trade to Barrow port. Brine was brought to the surface and pumped to reservoirs and filter beds at Hillock Whins. An evaporating plant, with six chimneys and 24 pans, was constructed capable of producing 50 000 tons of salt per annum. | |
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Derricks, circa 1900 |
Evaporating plant and finishing sheds |
The directors’ faith in the business venture was reflected in their proposal to build 40 houses and a general store near the pier at the south end. The plans for this development were submitted on June 25th 1897 and approved a couple of weeks later, however only a single row of cottages was ever built.
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While salt was a profitable commodity, the business venture, which had a host of prominent directors such as Edward Wadam, Augustus Strongitharm and John Fisher, was never a financial success. Pressure from the Cheshire salt interests, several difficult years of partial working and the inability to obtain a decent price for the product meant that the business could not operate at a profit and the plant was finally forced to close in 1909. The row of cottages remained in use though until they were condemned and demolished in the early 1960s (right). |
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