Situation of the brine springs, rock-salt mines, &c.
I have dwelt thus minutely upon local facts from their connection with the situation of the rock-salt, which, with few exceptions, has yet been ascertained to exist only in the vallies of the Weaver and its tributary streams; in some places manifesting its presence by springs impregnated with salt; in other places being known by mines actually carried down into the substance of the strata. A reference to the map will shew the several situations where brine springs occur, or where mines have been sunk, in the course of these vallies. Between the source of the Weaver and Nantwich, it will be seen that many brine springs make their appearance; and in the latter part of this course, it would seem that brine might be obtained by sinking to some depth in any place near the banks of the Weaver. Proceeding down the stream, salt-springs occur again at Winsford, and in several situations between Winsford and Northwich. At Moulton, between these two places, a mine has been sunk into the body of rock-salt, and another also between Winsford and Middlewich. At Northwich the brine springs are very abundant, and here also many mines have been sunk for the purpose of working out the fossil salt. The springs occur again in several places further down the river, but none have been met with below Saltersford, about two miles from Northwich. At Whitley, however, two miles north of the Weaver, and six miles from Northwich, a body of rock-salt is stated to have been met with in boring for coal.
On the course of the river Wheelock, brine springs have been found at Lawton, Roughwood, Wheelock, and again at Middlewich, where this stream unites itself with the Dane. At Lawton a mine has been sunk into the rock-salt. In the valley of the Dane, no salt
