Salty Business (1968)

Maldon, Essex. L/S looking over the Essex Marshes and Blackwater Estuary; M/S of some large sheds on the banks which make up a crystal salt works. Cyril Osborne is seen turning a valve to let water into an enclosure near the river bank. Inside one of the sheds we see him turn an inlet valve to let the purified water come flowing into a huge tank as commentator explains the water is brought to the boil, and left simmering until the following morning. M/S of the tank full of salty water; steam is rising from the surface. C/Us of the salt deposits left by the process. A man rakes in the pure sea salt crystals and shovels them into a large wooden box. C/U of a pile of large salt crystals; a hand comes into shot and picks up a crystal. Note: on file is a small newspaper article about the salt works; it says this is Britain’s only surviving crystal salt works. Cameraman’s notes on file say salt has been processed in Maldon since Roman times. Cuts exist - see separate record. FILM ID:429.1 A VIDEO