His first scheme was to deepen the small river Salwarp, so as to connect Droitwich with the Severn by a water communication, and thus facilitate the transport of the salt so abundantly yielded by the brine springs near that town.

In 1665, the burgesses of Droitwich agreed to give him 750L.

and eight salt vats in Upwich, valued at 80L.

per annum, with three-quarters of a vat in Northwich, for twenty-one years, in payment for the work.

But the times were still unsettled, and Yarranton and his partner Wall not being rich, the scheme was not then carried into effect.[9] In the following year we find him occupied with a similar scheme to open up the navigation of the river Stour, passing by Stourport and Kidderminster, and connect it by an artificial cut with the river Trent.