Cheshire volunteer wins national award for his outstanding contribution to the Lion Salt Works Museum

On Wednesday 4 November, Juan Cunliffe, a Lion Salt Works Museum volunteer was awarded a national accolade - the North West winner of the British Museum and the Marsh Christian Trust’s ‘Volunteers for Museum Learning’ Award.

This prestigious award, given at a ceremony at the British Museum, recognises innovative ways in which volunteers work in museums to engage the public with collections. Juan won for his outstanding volunteering contribution at Northwich’s Lion Salt Works Museum and in particular for his pivotal role during last year’s restoration of a vital piece of original machinery, the ‘Nodding Donkey’ pump. 

Juan Cunliffe, 81, a retired electrical engineer who spent most of his professional life at ICI, lives in Sandiway, Northwich. He was one of the original volunteer guides at the Museum in 2015, when the former open-pan, salt-making site re-opened as a museum after a four-year restoration. Over time, he became knowledgeable on open-pan salt-making, during which time he researched and curated an exhibition on modern salt-production, that proved of such importance that it is now on permanent display. Through the years, he has also readily and generously passed this knowledge on to staff, other volunteers and restoration experts 

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Juan has shown an extraordinary level of commitment as a volunteer at the museum. In 2019, a cherished goal of the museum was to use the last of the funds from the original restoration project to restore the ‘Nodding Donkey’ pump and its imposing 10-metre high maintenance derrick, as it plays a crucial part in the visual understanding of how “wild brine”, 136 ft underground, was raised to the surface for processing. 

“Juan used his tenacity and resolve to spend hours painstakingly looking at archive material to ensure that, in conjunction with the restoration team, the ‘Nodding Donkey’ was accurately recreated. He has also worked tirelessly on designing interpretation panels explaining the working of the pump. Over the years, on every level, Juan has gone the extra mile and he richly deserves this national award.”  

Juan Cunliffe, said: “I am proud to have brought the Marsh Award to the fascinating Lion Salt Works Museum. Volunteering is not a one-way street, you meet new people, find out new things and it is interesting and rewarding to be making a real contribution to something so worthwhile. 

“I was particularly pleased about working on the restoration project for the unique ‘Nodding Donkey’. It was a lot of work and involved liaising with architects and engineers, but all the effort was worth it to see it being admired by visitors to the site. It now operates as it once would have done, with all the associated machinery, such as the boiler feed water pump, boiler and steam engine, kept for posterity.” 

The ‘Volunteering for Museums Learning’ Awards, run by the British Museum and the Marsh Christian Trust, celebrates the achievements and contribution of volunteers in museums, galleries and heritage sites all over the United Kingdom, recognising their dedication, innovation and excellence in engaging with the public. 

The Lion Salt Works Museum explains the story of Cheshire’s important salt industry and how it impacted on the people, landscape and industry of the region. Salt from Cheshire was also the basis of a world-wide trade which brought work and prosperity to the region. Since its restoration in 2015, the Museum has won nine awards, including the National Lottery’s ‘Best Heritage Project 2016’ after a public vote. . 

Free access to Café, Gift Shop, Butterfly Garden, Play Area and Car Park 

Website: westcheshiremuseums.co.uk 

Twitter @cwacmuseums  Facebook: Weaver Hall Museum and Lion Salt Works 

Cheshire West and Chester Council is grateful to the HLF for awarding a grant of £5.29 million under its Heritage Grants scheme, making the Lion Salt Works one of the largest heritage schemes being undertaken with their support in the North West. English Heritage has also contributed £300,000 to the award-winning restoration. 

Twitter @cwacmuseums  Facebook: Weaver Hall Museum and Lion Salt Works 

About the Heritage Lottery Fund:

From archaeology to historic parks and buildings and from collections to rare wildlife, HLF uses National Lottery players’ money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about.  www.hlf.org.uk. 

Pictured - Juan Cunliffe in front of the Lion Salt Works Museum’s Nodding Donkey pump.