Salt was a very important commodity in early times. Its main use was to preserve meat, particularly pork, over the winter period.

Romans had a special allowance for salt in their pay. This was a “salarium”, the origin of our word “salary”. Droitwich was a main centre for salt extraction in the Midlands. The Salt Way still connects Droitwich and Stratford-uponAvon. Salt was carried on mules across the Avon, down to Banbury and onwards. It is possible that there were several crossings over the Avon, one at Stratford and others further upstream in Tiddington and Alveston villages. The Welcombe Hills Hotel claims that there was a salt way running down its front drive.

There was an Iron Age settlement in Tiddington as shown by crop marks near the river.