Remember how we took a peek behind the scenes at Murgatroyd’s Brine Pump last Heritage Open Day?
Now there will be more opportunities to glimpse inside this unique piece of industrial architecture and have a say in its future as a heritage site.
Kerry Fletcher, Heritage Officer with Middlewich Town Council writes :
“A rare survivor of Industrial heritage, Murgatroyd’s Brine Pump is the last set of pumps in situ and the most complete. It is a scheduled monument, one of three in Middlewich.
In 2016 with funding from Historic England and support from Cheshire East Council & Middlewich Town Council, the fledging Trust were able to complete emergency works on the brine pump building. We are not out of the woods yet, it is still on the ‘heritage at risk’ register.
The Trust have worked tirelessly with heritage organisations to move forward with the project, secure funding for a second phase of repairs, before going ahead with a community restoration and interpretation scheme. This project will not only save the brine pumps but will tell a unique story of Middlewich and its people.
So why are we doing this? And how can the public get involved?
Our town’s heritage is unique; we have a clear story to tell visitors, it isn’t just about over 2,000 years of salt making. It’s about the changes in the landscape, an age of engineering and invention and the people whose lives depended on the trade and canal networks to the ports. We want to share that story and let people know of our unique culture.
The Trust will open the brine pump site to the public four times a year. We opened earlier this month and then again 17th & 18th June, 29th & 30th July, 9th & 10th September
The site will be open 1pm to 4pm and a guided tour through the sites that made Middlewich what it is, discover the history of the canal corridor and our historic connections through the salt routes.
We will open up the building and be on hand to talk about the progress made so far and what the project plans are for the future. This is where the public make a difference. We want your feedback on the plans and the options for the future; perhaps you had a relative working in the salt industry and can add to the archive? Take a look at some of the items in our collection, this is your chance to help build a future for heritage in Middlewich.
Parking for the site only is at Middlewich Community Church Car park, Brooks Lane CW10 0JG, massive thanks to them for giving us permission to park.
For the tour, parking is on Civic Way Car Park, we meet outside the front of Victoria Building CW10 9AT. Booking is required as we do need to know numbers.”
Everything is free to enter
For more information contact the Heritage Development Officer on 01606 833434 or email: