A free, family fun-filled 'Salt Sunday' will be held on the afternoon of Sunday 19 May, when Cheshire's award-winning Lion Salt Works Museum, based in Northwich, joins forces with the Salt of the Earth network. The relaxed afternoon of free activities and music runs between 12:30pm - 4pm and is open to all. It is a celebration of Cheshire's huge salt reserves and will explore the country's rich salt heritage with interactive drama, a live art installation, ingenious science experiments, free science-fun for children and three interesting 20-minute 'taster talks'. Visitors do not have to pay entry charges to go into the Museum to enjoy Slat Sunday. For more information contact 01606 275037 or visit www.westcheshiremuseums.com.
During the afternoon visitors can enjoy:
- At 1:40pm, 2:20pm and 3:00pm, Becky Musto, actress and storyteller, will enchant audiences with her interactive and imaginative performances.
- George’s Messy Science 'Cabbage with Chemistry' experiments - take part in ingenious experiments
- Marvel as 'wild brine' is transformed into salt crystals over a boiling open-pan thanks to Lion Salt Works Trustees
- A programme of interesting 15-minute 'taster talks'
- 1:50pm Dr Diana Leitch from the Catalyst Museum will talk about salt and the Periodic Table of Elements (2019 is UNESCO's Year of the Periodic Table).
- 2:15pm David North from Little Leigh talks about plans for setting up the Jabez Thompson Heritage Centre near Thompson's spectacular terracotta reredos of the 'Last Supper' in Little Leigh, Northwich
- 2:40pm MP Fiona Bruce talks about being a Christian in a public square and asks what difference can one make?
- Mid-afternoon music with the Northwich Pop Choir
- During the afternoon, a live public art installation with Nisa Khan will explore salt from other creative perspectives
- At 3:30pm the Rt Rev Keith Sinclair, Bishop of Birkenhead, will give the traditional "blessing of the brine" and 'pause for thought' during a moment of light contemporary worship
- From 1:30pm onwards visitors can enjoy browsing interesting stalls set up by, amongst others, INEOS, Catalyst Museum, Cammell Laird and Cheshire Slavery
- Join a guided tour of the Salt Works after the worship time (admission charges apply for entry but not for the tour)
Brian Blundell from the Salts of the Earth network, said: "Salt Sunday is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come together and have fun and learn a little more about why salt is one of the things that defines the county. It explains the names of many of our towns, why the county has so many canals and why the county is a leader in the chemical industry. This a great way to celebrate the legacy and future of salt. We look forward to welcoming people from across the county and beyond."
The Museum is the last open-pan salt-making site in Cheshire and one of the last in the World. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument with the same protection status as Stonehenge and Hadrian's Wall. Owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council, it's £10m four-year restoration was made possible thanks to Heritage Lottery funding. The Museum tells the story of salt through fun, interactive displays, including a 'subsiding house' and a sound and light show that simulates the steam from the boiling salt pans.
The Museum has won nine awards since opening, including two national restoration awards and 'Best Heritage Project 2016' from the National Lottery, following a national vote.
There is a free parking and free access to the shop, café, play area and butterfly garden.