Middlewich Tourist Information

Middlewich lies on the Cheshire Plain where the Rivers Dane, Croco andWheelock meet, and on the Shropshire Union and Trent and MerseyCanals.

The suffix 'wich' indicates the presence of brine springs and salt wasextracted here during Roman times. Known as 'Salinae', thesettlement was one of the Roman's major sites for the productionof salt.

Saltmanufacture has continued right up to the present day and it's one remaining manufacturer (British Salt, makers of Saxa) produces 57% of the UK's cooking salt.

The area is also known for the production of Cheshire Cheese.

Partsof Middlewich's parish church, St Michael and All Angels,dates back to Norman times but most of the building was constructedduring the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. The church wasthe scene of defeat of the Royalists by the Parliamentarians at the First Battle of Middlewich in the English Civil War.

The town'slocation near the M6 and other important routes has meantthat it has grown rapidly since World War I.

Because the town centre was not been extensively redeveloped in the 1970s, like many neighbouring towns, it has retained many original small shops.

A replica Roman amphitheatre, known as the Bull Ring, has been builtnear the parish church. This venue has been regularly used to host arts and music events and an ice rink.

Since 1990 a highly-regarded Folk and Boat Festival has been held in Middlewich.