Never really thought about it before but salt was/is the only mined mineral we eat. Whilst looking for something else came across a PP for 1884 'Mines and Mining Statistics', an extremely comprehensive document. Rather than upload it I'll just give the web adress in case anyone is interested. An extract:

Salt from Brine—White Salt.

The Cheshire Brine Pits, from which brine is being pumped and white salt manufactured
are:—
At Northwich, those pumping from inundated rock-salt mines; in Marston, Henry Neumann's,Ollershaw Lane; in Wiucham, Captain Townshend's, Wincham and Old British; in Witton-cum-Twambrooks, the Cheshire Amalgamated Salt Company, Ltd., and William Worthington's; and
those pumping from the " rock-head" or top of the rock-salt; in Anderton, the British Salt Company's; Thomas Higgm's, and Brunner, Mond, & Co., Ltd.; in. Marston, William Hayes and Sons, Marston and Marston Hall; Henry Neumann's, Ollershaw Lane; John Thompson.; Joseph
Verdin and Sons, Adelaide and Alexandria; in Wincham, the New Victoria Salt Co., Ltd.; in Winnington, .Brunner, Mond, & Co., Ltd.; in Marbury, the Runcorn Brine Co., Ltd., in preparation, with a range of pipes about a-dozen miles in length to Runcorn, where the brine is intended to be
treated. - -
At Middlewich, the rock-head has not yet been reached, and the brine is obtained from above it. The pits are in Kinderton, Ralph Seddou's; and R. H. Yeoman's; in Newton, Joseph Verdin and Sons. At Sandbach. the brine pits pump from the rock-head; at Wheeloek, the Cheshire Amalgamated Co., Ltd., two pits at Malkin's Bank ; and the Wheelock Iron and Salt Co., Ltd., has ono pit east of
Wheelock Bridge, and one west of the bridge; afc Lawton, the Lawfcon Salt Co. has one pit.
At Winsford the pits are almost entirely rock-head pits.
On the Over, or western side of the River Weaver, beginning at the north end: H. E. Falk,
Meadow Bank Works, 2 pits, 1 being an old rook-salt pit; John Thompson; William and Robert
Hickson; Joseph Verdin and Sons, Grange Works; George Deakin, Ltd., 3 pits; Runcorn Soap
and Alkali Co., Ltd.; Joseph Evans, Dutch Works.
On the Wharton, ov eastern, side of the River Weaver, beginning at the north end: Joseph Verdin and Sons, Newbridge Works, 2 pits; Simpson and Davis, 2; George Deakin, Ltd., 2; Stubbs brothers, 2, 1 being an old—rock-salt pit; Cheshire Amalgamated Salt Co., Ltd., 2;
Wharton River and Railway Salt Co., Ltd.; Joseph Evans, Wharton Lodge Works ; Joseph Verdin and Sons, Meadow Works and Uplount~Works ; D. and G. Bromilow, Birkenhead Works ; Joseph
Evans; Firth & Co,, the Island Works,

http://www.industrial-loco.org.uk/ 

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One of the brine pits, The Lion Salt Works was a contestant in the BBC's Restoration program and failed to win. However, it has just received a £4 million grant from the HLF and some other funding.

The Salt Union has a very good web site on the Winsford Rock Salt Mine with videos of extraction, blasting etc here.
http://www.saltunion.com/winsfordrocksaltmine/ 

And there is the Salt Union site itself, showing the uses given over to spent parts of the mines. DeepStore
http://www.saltunion.com/ 

Thanks for that. Very interesting. It's funny being a meteorologist in a former life it never crossed my mind to wonder where the de-icing salt came from.

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