Medieval Salt Production

c. 1250

Hayling Island was an important centre of salt production throughout the medieval period. The low-lying shores and tidal marshes provided ideal conditions for salt panning, a process in which seawater was trapped in shallow pools and allowed to evaporate, leaving salt crystals for collection. Salt was a valuable commodity, essential for food preservation, and the Hayling salt pans produced a steady supply for local use and trade. The industry employed islanders in the laborious work of maintaining the pans, managing the tidal flow, and collecting the salt. Place names on the island, including Salterns Lane, preserve the memory of this trade. The salt industry declined as cheaper imported salt became available and as changes in land use altered the island's shoreline, but it was a significant part of Hayling's medieval economy.