The Salterns name comes from its busy past use as a ‘salt works’ – the lagoon was used as giant salt pan between 1730-1849. In fact the whole Lilliput area was a hive activity with a large pottery factory using a pier from the current marina area too! Much later we played a large part in the UKs Flying Boats history – the term ‘Airport’ actually comes from when sea planes would land from the ‘air’ into a ‘port’. It’s highly likely Winston Churchill himself landed at Salterns Marina when the area was an important Airport during WW2! Having purchased the business in 1969, the Smith family (of Matchbox Cars) continued to improve the site and by 1974 developed the marina as you see it today.