SHORT HISTORY OF NANTWICH

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The earliest evidence we have for human activity in Nantwich is from the Roman period. Although there is no evidence of a settlement itself, artefactual finds in the area indicate that there was settlement in the vicinity by the 2nd century AD. The majority of finds indicate the area was used as a Roman industrial area, with activities including salt making and lead production.

Two large salt pans with Roman inscriptions have been found in the area and are now on display at the Nantwich Museum. These salt pans will have been used for the evaporation process in order to obtain rock salt from the natural underlaying deposits. By the early Medieval period Nantwich was one of Cheshire's most successful salt production towns, the others being Middlewich and Northwich.

Into the Medieval period the town of Nantwich began to expand, and new timber structures were erected, some of which can still be seen around the town centre today. Unfortunately many of these were destroyed in a fire dating to 1583.

During the Civil War Nantwich was garrisoned by the Parliamentary forces and became the main base for attacks on the Royalist forces on the Welsh border. In December 1643 the Royalists laid siege to the town. From Nantwich Sir Thomas Fairfax led a force of 5,000 men to meet the Royalist forces near Acton. It was here that the Battle of Nantwich took place.

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Some of the finds from Kingsley Fields