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Pipe revealed by storms at Crosscanonby Salt Works, 13 March 2020

Recent storms have redistributed sands and gravels along the Allonby Bay coastline.
This wooden pipe has been revealed in the inter-tidal area below Crosscanonby Salt Pan.
Possibly a pipe to carry sea water from the coastal edge to the saltworks. It is currently allowing fresh water to drain from below the saltworks.
It is some 12m south of a 'well' like structure that  is often revealed, and which was posted here in a blog on 19th December 2019.
A first lease of the salt works is dated 1634 with a subsequent lease to Francis Barwise dated 1649 including mention of  'sumps', which may be a reference to this pipe.

Autumn Conference of the Cumbria Industrial History Society, Sat 10th October 2020

The Industries of the Arnside Area

Autumn Conference of the CIHS

Includes a talk by Andrew Fielding about the salt making sites and processes of Arnside and the Morecombe Bay area.

More details to follow

Salt Conference - Brora, Scotland 5-6 Sept 2020

Advance notice of a salt conference being organised by The Scape Trust at Brora, Sutherland, Scotland.
To be held over the week end of 5-6th September.
Andrew Fielding and Tom Lane from Ecosal-UK have been booked to contribute.
Other speakers include a key note talk by Prof Chris Whatley of Dundee University.

More details to follow here.

Talk: A Review of Salt Making in Cumberland

Andrew Fielding will be talking at the next meeting of the West Cumbria Archaeology Society on Friday 14th February. 

A Review of Salt Making in Cumberland 

7.30 at Allhallows Centre, Fletchertown. 

Admission charge for non members

Old photograph from web of the salt works site at Crosscanonby.

After the insertion of protective gabions and while it was clear of vegetation

but before the construction of the cycle way

which led to the loss of the associated buildings inland of the road.

Crosscanoby Salt Pans - threats from coastal erosion 2019

These three photographs show why the Crosscanonby salt pans require urgent surveying and re-evaluation, and why Ecosal-UK is seeking grant aid to establish a local community project to survey the beach and establish what impact the tides, weather and storms have over a twelve month period.

The work may also suggest what excavation works are required to understand exactly how the salt pans were operated.

Brine well between high and low tide under constant erosion from shifting sands and gravel.

Failed gabions to the south of the Crosscanonby salt pans putting the coast road in danger of erosion.

Three tier gabions currently protecting the salt pans from tidal storms.
A caravan site once stood on the seaward side of these gabions!

Lidar view of Crosscanonby Milefortlett 21 includes the salt works.

Ecosal-UK is looking for funding to investigate the salt pans at Allonby Bay, Cumbria. Lidar image shows the site at the foot of Swarthy Hill below Milefortlett 21 on Hardian's Wall.

Milefortlet 21 of the Roman Cumbrian Coast defences near Crosscanonby. 1990 excavated and ramparts reconstructed. And the post-medieval Allonby Saltpan. 

#LiDAR: @EnvAgencyGeomat #FridayLiDAR pic.twitter.com/K8RPkPuQzT

— Rouven Meidlinger (@planlaufterrain) 29 March 2019