Salt Pans (Seaton Valley)
Salt was manufactured from early times at the mouth of Seaton Burn. The name 'Salters Peth' is given to the road leading inland from Hartley. William de Whitchester, who died in 1408, held a salt-lake in the Manor of Seaton Delaval. (1)
There is no visible evidence of salterns at the mouth of Seaton Burn. (Area NZ 339 768). The name Salter's Peth could not be traced in Hartley. (2)
Evaporation of brine to produce salt was known at Hartley (Seaton Sluice) from the 13th century. Large scale expansion occurred in the 17th century. Abundance of cheap coal for use in salt pans. Only suitable site where brine could be pumped from sea level sumps to the
pans was at the mouth of the Seaton Burn. A small community of salters developed at Hartley Pans by the 17th century. Went into decline in the early 19th century. (3)
There is no visible evidence of salterns at the mouth of Seaton Burn. (Area NZ 339 768). The name Salter's Peth could not be traced in Hartley. (2)
Evaporation of brine to produce salt was known at Hartley (Seaton Sluice) from the 13th century. Large scale expansion occurred in the 17th century. Abundance of cheap coal for use in salt pans. Only suitable site where brine could be pumped from sea level sumps to the
pans was at the mouth of the Seaton Burn. A small community of salters developed at Hartley Pans by the 17th century. Went into decline in the early 19th century. (3)
N11958
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1954; E Geary
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