As man gave up the life of the nomadic hunter-gatherer and turned to farming, he was largely self-sufficient. However, one vital commodity was available in only a few isolated areas – salt. Early settlements needed salt to preserve meat and it was a vital part of the diet. Thus trade routes were born, a network of paths and tracks across the land, running south and east from the two major centres of salt production in Worcestershire and Cheshire.
The Salt Routes follows the routes taken by salters distributing salt across the country. It covers area between the ports of Liverpool in the north and Bristol and London in the south; as far north as Burnley, to the west as far as Harrogate, Sheffield and the Lincolnshire border; and south to Lechlade and the Thames, around the Cotswolds, and as far southwest as Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.
These routes can be followed on foot, by bicycle or by car, when an alternative route is given. Along the way the author investigates the history of the places and sights on the routes. He also looks at some of the people involved and at how salt has influenced these areas and offers suggestions for refreshment along the way.
This book is a fascinating read for historians, walkers and visitors and locals alike – some of whom may have friends or family members who still earn a living from a trade which existed when Britain reappeared from beneath the glaciers of the last ice age.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anthony Poulton-Smith is a prolific author, having written many books on a range of historical aspects, from hauntings to the derivations of place names.
He lives in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
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| Publication: |
August 2010 |
Extent: |
128 pages |
| Availability: |
In stock |
Images Mono: |
60 |
| Format: |
235 x 165 mm |
Images Colour: |
0 |
| Binding: |
Paperback |
