Northwich in 1837

Northwich, in the parochial chapelry of Witton, is 17 miles east-north-east of Chester, and 173 north-west of London : the population 1,490. Camden states that it was called by the Britons Hellath, or Hellah Du, that is, the Black Salt Town. It is in the line of the northern Watling Street. The town was fortified and garrisoned by the parliamentary party in 1643, and was taken by the royalists and retaken by their enemies.

The principal manufacture is salt. The Weaver runs through the town. Vessels of small burden are built here in the ship-yards. The market day is Friday. Courts-leet and baron are held, though the general quarter-sessions were removed to Knutsford in 1784.

The Independents and Wesleyan Methodists have meeting-houses in Northwich, and there has been a charity school for 12 poor children, with a small endowment, since 1735.

The living is a curacy, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester. The church, which is spacious, has a semicircular choir, and the roof of nave is decorated with numerous figures of wicker baskets such as are used in salt-making.