THE Lion Salt Works Museum's autumn season is kicking off with a bang next month with an exciting exhibition from members of a Byley-based pottery studio.

The exhibition from Cheshire Clay Studio, located near Middlewich, will open on October 5 at Northwich's Lion Salt Works.

It will be the culmination of months of research and design, showcasing a wide range of ceramic techniques.

Jean White, a founder of the Cheshire Clay Studio, said: "We all have a creative side and our ceramic studio is a large, light-filled place where people can come to us either as beginners or as long-term members and be nurtured on their artistic journey.

"Cheshire’s salt history is absolutely fascinating and the studio was delighted to be asked to do this exhibition. It has led to lots of different artistic interpretations.

"Liz Anspoks has produced a series of salt sellers, known as ‘salt pigs’ and Liz Pritchard has been inspired by the Trent and Mersey canal, that runs right past the museum and used to transport salt to Liverpool, to create a narrow boat and horses.

"Ex-architect Jim Williamson’s work uses the museum’s historic buildings as inspiration.

"I am making press-moulded tiles, showing a mixture of birds endangered by climate change and that live on the nearby flashes.

"Subsidence relating to salt mining creates these lakes.

"I like the various connections with clay in the area.

"For instance, a terracotta clay base was used beneath the huge salt pans to retain heat.

"But it is also fascinating that the Thompson family, who owned the Lion Salt Works for six generations, also diversified the family business into the Northwich-based Jabez Thompson Brickworks which made much of the terracotta decoration that makes the doorways and buildings of Northwich so interesting."

Councillor Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council added: "It is always fascinating to see different artistic interpretations of Cheshire’s rich salt heritage and this exhibition promises to be both thought-provoking and a visual feast.

"I am delighted that the Lion Salt Works Museum continues to be a catalyst for exploring Cheshire’s salt heritage in exciting and different ways."

Visit cheshireclay.com and lionsaltworks.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk.