| Description | Thomas Marshall established a salt factory at Northwich in 1720. The export of salt from the Company began in 1734. By the 1790's the Company had expanded its interests to the extent of controlling salt and coal supplies and ownership of boats. It had also established a Company agent and counting house in Liverpool. Between 1798-1831 this expansion continued and included the control of rock and brine salt works; rock refineries; collieries; weaver flats; Liverpool warehouses; land; timber yards; brickworks; houses; inns and a ship yard. By 1831 it was the largest and wealthiest industrial company in central Cheshire. By the 1790's salt production had outstripped demand. To protect their profits the salt manufacturers, led by the Marshalls agreed to control wages, prices, salt production and shipment. In 1805 this arrangement was formalised by the founding of the Salt Trade Association. The Association attempted to share out fairly the trade that there was. The Association was re-named the Improved Association in 1808 and John Marshall (grandson of Thomas Marshall) was made its permanent chairman. The Association was renamed the Society for Improving the British Salt Trade in 1838, but was also known as the Salt Trader's Association. This association collapsed in 1858 and was succeeded by the establishment of the Salt Union in 1888. The Marshall family had moved out of the salt industry by 1874."
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