Best for Kids 2022: Weaver Hall Museum and Lion Salt Works

Promising an exploration of hidden heritage and archaeological treasures that’s “informative and interesting” with “interactive displays that will keep the children entertained”, it’s no surprise that Weaver Hall Museum and Lion Salt Works has just scooped our Best for Kids 2022 award.

Each week, we focus on different categories to find the best that Northwich, Knutsford, Winsford and Middlewich have to offer with 14 awards for hair, nails, beauty, fitness and independent shop being given out as well as fish and chips, pies, pubs, beer garden, breakfast, afternoon tea, pizza and roast dinner already decided.

Voting has been taking place over the weekend in the latest round of the competition with the award for Best Burger 2022 up for grabs, and voting closes at midnight on Monday, August 8.

Next up we were searching for the area’s best place for children this summer and Weaver Hall Museum and Lion Salt Works topped the votes.

Housed in the old atmospheric Northwich Union Workhouse, Weaver Hall Museum which, in the 19th century, provided a last refuge for the poor of mid-Cheshire, until it closed in 1968.

Visitors can gain insight into the building’s history by exploring the workhouse schoolroom, the master’s sitting room and formidable double-heighted, guardian’s boardroom.

The outside playground is popular with young visitors

The Lion Salt Works Museum tells the story of salt and its impact on the region, landscape and people thorough interactive displays, a sound and light show, a ‘subsiding house’ and an automaton. 

The museum reopened after a four-year £10m restoration project in 2015 and is one of the last open-pan, salt-making sites in the world.

It is an important industrial heritage site and has been declared a Scheduled Ancient Monument, with the same status as Stonehenge.

The historic buildings are also home to a large industrial themed playground, a butterfly garden that contains Cheshire’s buddleia collection, a café and a shop. 

Weaver Hall Museum on London Road

Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Weaver Hall and the Lion Salt Works have been chosen as the best places to take children this summer.

“This all down to our dedicated staff, fantastic volunteers and of course the buildings themselves. 

“Both sites have exciting summer creative workshops planned for children over the summer with everything from making cardboard dinosaurs to Dark Age jewellery.

“If you haven’t visited before, then we look forward to welcoming you soon.”  

Each week during the summer holidays, The Lion Salt Works Museum will feature two days of creative drop-in workshops, every Tuesday and Wednesday between 10.30am and 3.30pm.

Young visitors can design their own cardboard dinosaurs, create their own stained glass-effect window decorations and make summer garden clay tiles.

Weaver Hall Museum will also host drop-in sessions but theirs will be on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10.30am and 3.30pm.

Visitors can dig deep into the museum’s collection and draw inspiration to make models, clay pots and workhouse games as well as create Dark Age jewellery and a masterpiece-inspired artwork.

For more details go to facebook.com/WeaverHallMuseumAndLionSaltWorks

Why not help little ones to make a workhouse game when you visit the museum?