History of Northwich the salt from the brine. Salt pans and 1st-century brine kilns have all been found around the Roman fort. The association with salt continues in the etymology of Northwich. The "wich" (or wych) suffix applies to other towns in the area - namely Middlewich, Nantwich and Leftwich. This is considered to have been derived from the Norse, "wic", for bay and is associated with the more traditional method of obtaining salt from evaporating sea water. Therefore, a place for making salt became a wych-house; and Northwich was the most northern of the Wich towns in Cheshire. The existence of Northwich
-wich town -wich town A "-"wich" town" is a settlement in Anglo-Saxon England characterised by extensive artisanal activity and tradean "emporium". The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon suffix , signifying "a dwelling or fortified place". Such settlements were usually coastal and many have left material traces found during excavation. Eilert Ekwall wrote: As well as "-wich", "-" was the origin of the endings and , as, for example, in Papplewick, Nottinghamshire. Four former "-"wīc" towns" are known in England as the consequence of excavation. Two of theseJorvik (Jorwic) in present-day York and Lundenwic near Londonare waterfront sites, while the other two,