Drive and stroll, with Ron Freethy.

THESE days we all take salt for granted. If you want to know more about the history of salt making in Britain then you should visit Northwich, close to the M6 motorway.

Here is the only salt museum in Britain and close to wonderful walking country and where there is plenty of parking.

This museum was first opened in part of the public library in 1889 and in 1909 it was transferred to the new library building and remained there until the 1930s. As befits a salt town, Northwich has always had displays relating to its history but in 1981 the Cheshire County Council opened a new salt museum in the old Northwich Union Workhouse building.

There is a modest entry fee and it is open daily except Mondays (bank holidays excepted) from 10am-5pm on weekdays and 2-5pm Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to a number of original artefacts, some dating from Roman times, there are many models, reconstructions and some excellent audio visual presentations including archive film material.

There are detailed descriptions of how salt was formed from shallow seas and the two basic methods of obtaining this, namely pumping up brine or mining the solid rock salt.

There is no doubt that the use of salt takes us back to a time before written records and the Romans obtained salt by evaporating brine from the natural springs in Cheshire using shallow lead pans placed on furnaces.

The method of evaporating brine changed little over the centuries and by the 18th century the "open pan" salt works were a feature of Cheshire. Large vessels called "common pans" produced coarse grade salt ideal for industrial use such as tanning leather, preserving fish, making soap and glass and many other vital commodities.

"Fine pans" were much smaller and used to produce high quality small grain salt for domestic use. Salt of all types was exported all over the world.

There are archive films of this process and a number of the tools used to extract, mould, dry and cut the salt and visitors are encouraged to handle these.

Eventually the "open pan" techniques were replaced by a much cleaner process known as vacuum evaporation but the traditional saltmaking only came to an end with the closure of the Lion salt works at nearby Marston in 1986.

The site, however, still exists and is open daily free of charge between 1.30 and 4.30pm and there is a shop and exhibition centre.

The mining of rock salt began in Britain in 1670 when deposits were found at Anderton near Northwich. By 1720 many mines were being worked in the area.

Only one Cheshire rock salt mine is now working and this is at Winsford where two million tons per year is produced. This provides all the salt used in Britain to keep our roads open during winter.

All aspects of the salt industry are covered in the museum which has a purpose built classroom which caters for school parties and offers help to junior schools as well as students working on projects leading to their GCSEs.