Northwich was once described as 'a dream town of fanciful creation by a disordered brain'. For many years the town was plagued by subsidence, which led buildings to simply collapse or slide into the ground. Many of the buildings have since been replaced and a picturesque town centre has developed. Winsford lies to the south of Northwich, and west of Middlewich, on the River Weaver. Like Northwich, salt became an important part of industry in Winsford and the town flourished. Middlewich was another salt town and it would later go on to play a significant part in the English Civil War. Tied together by the salt industry, these three picturesque Cheshire towns are depicted here in photographs old and new with informative captions compiled by local historian Paul Hurley.