July 2014 - The work nears completion

Views of the Salt Works

As people pass the Lion Salt Works they get brief views of the restored buildings. Entering the final months of the restoration the buildings are taking form on both the interior and exterior of the salt works. 

Looking across the Ollershaw Lane Flash, the salt works can be seen in the distance

Crossing the bridge over the Trent and Mersey canal, drivers catch a glimpse of the restored Stove Houses 2 and 3

The exterior of the salt works along Ollershaw Lane is still clad in fencing

Inside the Historic Core

The restoration work within the historic core of pan and stove houses is all but complete with the final touches being undertaken at the present time.

Pan 3 is protected by rails

Stove House 3, the walkway to Pan House 3

The interior warehouse of Stove House 3 is complete

Glass panels allow visual access to the level below where salt would have been passed up the hatches

Pan House 4, the lean-to cover is clad in corrugated tin

Pan House 4, the pan and trusses are complete

Stove House 4, the interior warehouse stills contains the crushing machine

A newly inserted walkway gives access through the Packing Area from Stove House 4 to Stove House 2

Stove House 2, interior is complete

The Loading Bay has been begun with a new platform acting as a fire escape

A fire escape has been built from the Packing Area and Stove House 3

The final panels are added to the Link Bridge

The Loading Bay and Link Bridge are almost complete

 The Red Lion Inn

The Red Lion Inn will act as the museum and education suite. It is currently being modernised to allow access to all.

The Red Lion Inn, the disabled lift and access give access to the education suite

Red Lion Inn, ground floor museum, the walls have been plastered

Red Lion Inn, First Floor, the education suite is progressing

 The Peripheral Buildings and Areas

The areas around the main salt works contain a number of buildings. All of these required some restoration and alteration to make them suitable for full access. They also require landscaping to provide a car park and visitor access.

Pump House, the roof is repaired

The exterior of the Pump House is complete and an access ramp constructed

Disabled access has been added to the Manager's House

The Manager's House, the interior panels have been removed to treat the area for damp

Stove House 5, the road and open spaces around the building are complete

A pathway leads from the canal up to Stove House 5

Stove House 5

 Stove House 5 acts as both cafe and visitor's centre, and a new conference facility on the first floor. The final touches have been put to the building in the last few days. The Link Bridge, newly built replacing the original allows access between Stove House 5 and the Historic Core.

Members of the Manage+ European Funding Team and Councillor Stuart Parker stand outside the completed Stove House 5. Money from Manage+ helped fund the new conference facility.

The new visitor's cafe and entrance

The conference facility on the first floor

The Link Bridge between Stove House 5 and the Historic Core takes shape

May 2014 Update: Lifts, Stove Houses, Pans and Bridges

The new disabled lift access is fitted to the Red Lion Inn

The lift shaft and emergency exit to the Red Lion Inn

The roofs of the Historic Core

Looking North over the Adelaide Flash with the restored Historic Core in the foreground

The Stove House 2 floor has begun to be repaired

Internal repairs of the Stove House 2 floor

A set of workman's clogs were discovered below the floorboards

The last of the repairs on the exterior of Stove House 2

Stove House 5 across the remains of Pan 2

Pan 5 has sat on a temporary scaffold for the last 5 years, ready to be lifted back into place

Pan 5 is lifted into place

Pan 5 sits on several steel girders

Pan 5 in position

The new path layout is established to the entrance of Stove House 5

The entrance to Stove House 5 is now in place

The Link Bridge, between Stove House 5 and the Historic Core is beginning to be built

The Loading Bay repairs have begun

The last of the repairs on the Pump House chimney have been completed

April 2014 Update: A Tour through the Museum

The  museum experience is beginning to take shape. For the first time the route the visitor takes through the Lion Salt Works can be seen. 

The entrance foyer in Stove House 5

Cloak rooms and toilets to the rear

A cafe with views to Pan 5 outside

From Stove House 5 the visitor walks down via Stove House 4 and Pan House 4 to the Red Lion Inn

The visitor will be able to visit the museum displays in the Red Lion Inn...

From the Red Lion Inn, the visitor passes into Pan House 3

Lift and stairs give access to all

Pan 3, surrounded by a balustrade

The walkway passes over the flues

...or passes north into Stove House 3

The walkway gives a circular route around the stove houses

...with stairs into the warehouses

From the warehouse of Stove House 3, the visitor passes into Stove House 4

Museum displays will be present in Stove House 4...

...with views of the crushing machine

To be continued......