In Britain, lead salt pans were used by the Romans at Middlewich, Nantwich and Northwich and excavations at Middlewich and Nantwich have revealed extensive salt making settlements.

We even know the names of a few of the Roman salt makers. These are inscribed on some of the lead pans - Viventius, Veluvius and Cunitus. Complete Roman salt pans are in the Salt Museum and at Nantwich Museum. The leaden pans were roughly 90-100cm square by 15cm deep. At Middlewich (Salinae) excavations have also revealed brine kilns on which Iron Age type earthenware vessels of brine were heated.  Roman soldiers were partly paid in salt. It is said to be from this that we get the word soldier - 'sal dare', meaning to give salt. From the same source we get the word salary, 'salarium'.

To sit above or below the salt identified precedence in the seating arrangements at a feast, according to one's rank.

'Not to be worth one's salt was a great insult'.