Salt Making on Wrangle Marsh – Using Replica Ingoldmells Ceramic Salt Pans

These pans can be used to gradualy increase the saturation and temperature of brine in order to make white salt. We started our experiments in salt making with sixteenth century iron salt pans and arrived, via Roman and medieval lead salt pans, at Pre-historic and Roman ceramic pans. This began our collaboration with potter, Allan Hughes. In 2005-6 experiments were carried out to examine the way in which the ceramic salt pans found at Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire worked. Copies of the pans were made by Allan Hughes and a working mock-up based on Tom Lane’s research was initially constructed with fire bricks. In June 2006 this mock-up was taken to Wrangle Marsh as part of a weekend salt conference. A salt oven was also made by Anvil Pottery from clay taken from the marshes. Other features typical of excavated sites such as brine settling tanks were also constructed. Brine at a solution of 10% was used to demonstrate the way in which the pans could be used to bring the sea water brine to saturated point (25%) when crystalisation of salt can take place. Links: www.aandafielding.uwclub.net – www.anvilpottery.co.uk – www.lincsheritage.org – www.lionsaltworks.co.uk