(grid reference SO 946667)
In October 1888, the Salt Union Ltd purchased the Stoke Prior salt works from John Corbett along with the railway sidings, a connection to the Midland Railway and two locomotives.
The Salt Union Ltd was a conglomerate of prominent owners of salt mines in Cheshire and elsewhere. The union rapidly established a virtual monopoly on salt production in England with the intention of raising prices and profitability. The Salt Union Ltd paid John Corbett £660,000 for Stoke Prior works, a huge sum in that time and arguably considerably more than it was worth. As part of the sale, John Corbett was appointed to the board of the Salt Union Ltd and as the Managing Director of the Worcester Division, thus in effect he realised his assets but remained in charge of the works in a similar position to previous but without the financial responsibility.
The above photograph appears to show salt being unloaded onto a horse and cart from private wagons owned by the Salt Union Ltd . The location is not known. (Collection of Andrew Smith).
The above photograph is from an advertising postcard produced by the Salt Union Ltd. (Collection of Andrew Smith).
LOCOMOTIVE FLEET:
The Salt Union Ltd acquired the following two locomotives as part of the purchase of the works from John Corbett:
RAVEN 0-4-0ST Manning Wardle 572 of 1876 (scrapped 1928)
ELEPHANT 0-4-0ST Hawthorn 1965 of 1883 (to ICI 1937)
A third locomotive was acquired in 1913:
ANNIE 0-4-0ST Fox Walker 185 of 1873 (from Gabbutt And Atkinson contractors Bampton Yorkshire possibly between 1882 and 1913 scrapped c1930)
The following locomotive was transferred from the Salt Union Ltd's Covercroft Works at Droitwich Spa when that works closed in 1922:
AVON 0-6-0ST Fox Walker 328 of 1877 (to Salt Union Ltd Winsford Cheshire 1930)
Three other locomotives at Stoke Prior salt works came from other Salt Union locations or from a dealer:
VENGEANCE 0-4-0ST Peckett 1492 of 1917 (from Charles D.Philips (Machinery) Ltd dealer Newport Gwent 1923 to Salt Union Ltd Winsford, Cheshire 1925)
WORCESTER 0-4-0ST Lowca 224 of 1895 (from Salt Union Ltd Runcorn Cheshire 1925 to ICI 1937)
NORTHWICH 0-4-0ST Falcon of 1884 (from Salt Union Ltd Northwich, Cheshire 1928 to ICI 1937)
The Salt Union Ltd sold the Stoke Prior salt works to ICI's Salt Division in 1937 along with the three remaining locomotives listed above.
Click here for ICI Ltd, Salt Division, Stoke Prior Salt Works