One of the oldest known trading routes to pass through our area, the Old Salt Road or Saltersbrook runs from Northwich in Cheshire and is known as the Salt route or Pack Horse Trail. Wheeled barrows were also used.
The route was upgraded to a Turnpike in early 18th and 19th centuries. Many kinds of produce did the return trip from Yorkshire to Cheshire. Salt was a very important commodity used for preserving meats and food flavouring.
This Cheshire to Saltersbrook route was made into a turnstile road by an Act of 1732 and the second part Saltersbrook to Barnsley and Doncaster in 1740. A section once went over Hartcliffe Hill ended at Rotherham. This was replaced by the road through Millhouse Green, which was also made into a turnpike route.
Teams of pack horses with handlers known as ‘Jaggers’ would use this remote moorland trail only in Spring and Autumn.
To find Saltersbrook, proceed along the Manchester Road A628 through Thurlstone, Millhouse Green past Bullhouse and the Flouch crossroads. At the top of Bord Hill, past the Dog and Partridge Inn, the road levels out and goes over a small bridge, Ladyshaw Bridge, over a brook. The current bridge dates back to 1730-40 and would have once been wood. Saltersbrook House is now ruined but stood by the trail here. This Inn was opened in 1795 to closure in 1852. A welcome break for refreshments for travellers and Drovers.