Salt was procured from the wyches or pans of the coast, and also from the inland wyches or brine wells of Cheshire and the midland counties.

Such names as Nantwich, Middlewych, Bromwich, and Droitwich, still preserve the memory of these early saltworks.

Iron was mined in the Forest of Dean, around Alcester, and in the Somersetshire district.

The city of Gloucester had six smiths' forges in the days of Eadward the Confessor, and paid its tax to the king in iron rods.

Lead was found in Derbyshire, and was largely employed for roofing churches.