The Maldon Salt Company is familiar with many people in Essex, but also in the UK and abroad. Their salt is in my cupboard and no doubt countless others in the region, so I was curious to see how it was made, especially since they employ a mixture of traditional techniques and modern technology. So I was delighted to have a guided tour of two of their sites by Clive Osbourne, whose family have run the business since 1882.
It was fascinating to see the whole process, from the River Blackwater to the filtration tanks, the water being evaporated from the salt pans and the salt crystals forming (it was very steamy in there!), the salt being raked and shovelled out, the crystals being dried in a loud machine and eventually being packed into tubs ready to be shipped out to various countries, supermarkets and local stores. You can hear the sounds made by some of these processes above.
Thanks to Gary, Thomas and Margaret, and of course Clive, for being so accommodating and letting me record their daily routines and giving me a fascinating insight into how salt is made.
Creator
Stuart Bowditch Place
Maldon, Downs Road, Maldon Salt Co. Ltd Copyright
Essex Sound and Video Archive
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