-wich town Hamwic in Southampton and Gipeswic (Gippeswic) in Ipswich are further inland. As also means "bay" in Old English, "wich" and "wych" are also used in names to denote brine springs or wells. By the eleventh century, the use of "-wich" in placenames had been extended to include areas associated with salt production. At least nine English towns and cities carry the suffix although only five of them tend to be associated with salt: Droitwich in Worcestershire and the four -"wich" towns of Middlewich, Nantwich, Northwich and Leftwich in Cheshire. -wich town A "-"wich" town" is a settlement in Anglo-Saxon England
Northwich were united as the civil parish of Northwich, served by Northwich Urban District Council. The town was further enlarged in 1936 by the addition of parts of Winnington, Lostock Gralam, Barnton, Leftwich and Rudheath, and again in 1955 when parts of Davenham, Hartford, Rudheath and Whatcroft were added. The Local Government Act 1972 replaced the Urban District Council of Northwich with a new district (later borough) council: Vale Royal. Vale Royal covered areas previously covered by Northwich UDC (Urban District Council), Northwich RDC (Rural District Council), Winsford UDC and parts of Runcorn RDC. Northwich Town Council now has the powers