Northwich was the most northern of the -wich towns in Cheshire. The existence of Northwich in the early medieval period is shown by its record in the Domesday Book: The manor of Northwich belonged to the Earls of Chester until 1237 when the family line died out. Subsequently, Northwich became a royal manor and was given to a noble family to collect tolls in exchange for a set rent. That salt production continued throughout the centuries and can be seen through John Leland's description of the town in 1540: Between 1642 and 1643, during the English Civil War, Northwich was fortified
-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,