in
Somerset ,
England , is a
Market Town , the administrative centre of the
Sedgemoor District , and the leading industrial town in the
County .
Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through
South West England , between two junctions of the
M5 Motorway , on the main railway line between
Bristol and
Taunton , and on the edge of the
Somerset Levels .
It is thought that the town was originally called Brigg, meaning
Quay . In the
Doomsday Book the town is listed as Brugie, while Brugia was also used. After the
Norman invasion the land was given to Walter
Douai (a Norman prince), hence becoming known variously as Burgh-Walter, Brugg-Walter and Brigg-Walter, eventually corrupted to Bridgwater. An alternative version is that it derives from "Bridge of Walter" (i.e. Walter's Bridge).
Bridgwater had a population of 36,563 according to the 2001 census (up from 22,718 in
1951 , 3,634 in
1801 , and 7,807 in
1831 ). Historically, the town had a politically radical tendency, being involved in several events of note on the national stage.
Bridgwater is mentioned both in the Domesday Book and in earlier
Saxon chronicles dating from around
800 . It was formerly part of the
Hundred Of North Petherton .
Alfred The Great famously burnt cakes when hiding in the marshes of
Athelney near Bridgwater, after the
Danish invasion in
875 , while in
878 there was a major engagement nearby at the
Battle Of Cannington .
William de Briwere was granted the
Lord ship of the
Manor of Brigwater by
Henry II . Through William's influence, King
John granted three charters in
1200 ; for the construction of Bridgwater Castle, for the creation of a
Borough , and for a market.
Bridgwater castle was a substantial structure built in
Old Red Sandstone , covering a site of 8 or 9 acres (32,000 to 36,000 m&
2). A tidal
Moat , up to 65 feet (20 m) wide in places, flowed approximately along the current streets of Fore Street and Castle Moat, and between Northgate and Chandos Street. Unusually, the main entrance opposite the Cornhill was built with a pair of adjacent gates and
Drawbridge s. In addition to a
Keep , located at the south-east corner of what is now King Square, documents show that the complex included a
Dungeon , chapel, stables and a
Bell Tower . Built on the only raised ground in the town, the castle controlled the crossing of the town bridge. A 12 foot (3.5 m) thick portion of the castle wall and water gate can still be seen on West Quay, and the remains of a wall of a building that was probably built within the castle can be viewed in Queen Street. The foundations of the tower forming the north-east corner of the castle are buried beneath Homecastle House. For the demise of the castle, see below.
William de Briwere also founded St John's
Hospital which, by the time of the
Dissolution Of The Monasteries under
Henry VIII , was worth the substantial sum of almost 121
Pounds , as well as starting the construction of the town's first stone bridge. One of William's sons went on to found a
Franciscan Priory in the town.
During the
11th Century Second Barons' War against
Henry III , Bridgwater was held by the
Baron s against the King.
Bridgwater's peasants under Nicholas Frampton took part in the
Peasants' Revolt of
1381 , sacking Sydenham House, murdering the local tax collectors and destroying the records.
The
1605 Gunpowder Plot is thought to have been masterminded by
Robert Parsons , born in the nearby village of
Nether Stowey . To this day
Guy Fawkes is celebrated as a local hero during the carnival season, including a grand illuminated procession through Bridgwater town centre, which culminates in the
Squibbing .
In the
English Civil War the town and the castle were held by the Royalists under
Colonel Sir
Francis Wyndham , a personal acquaintance of the King. British history might have been very different had his wife, Lady (Crystabella) Wyndham, been a little more accurate with a musket shot that missed Cromwell but killed his aide de camp. Eventually, with many buildings destroyed in the town, the castle and its valuable contents were surrendered to the Parliamentarians on
July 22 ,
1645 . The castle itself was deliberately destroyed the following year (
1645 ), while in
1651 Colonel Wyndham made arrangements for
Charles II to flee to France following the
Battle Of Worcester .
Following the when the Dampiet Street
Unitarian chapel was founded.
In the
1685 Monmouth Rebellion , the rebel
James Scott, 1st Duke Of Monmouth was proclaimed King in various local towns including on the Cornhill in Bridgwater. He eventually lead his troops on a night-time attack on the King's position near Westonzoyland. Unfortunately surprise was lost when a musket was accidentally discharged, and the
Battle Of Sedgemoor resulted in defeat for the Duke. He later lost his head in the
Tower Of London , and nine locals were executed for treason. Allegedly, until recently members of the Royal Family would not pass through Bridgwater without drawing the blinds of the
Royal Train as a result of this escapade.
Bridgwater became the first town in Britain to petition the government to ban
Slavery in
1785 .
In
1896 , the
Trade Union ists of Bridgwater's brick and tile industry were involved a number of strikes. The
Salisbury government sent troops to the town to clear the barricades by force. This was the first use of the Riot Act in the UK in an industrial dispute.
Previously a manor estate with a thousand years of history, the house has been home to many a noteworthy and interesting character, the house that stands has a 500years history and now stands in the grounds of the former
British Cellophane Plant . Its owners chose the wrong side in the
Civil War and got it wrong again in the
Monmouth Rebellion . Resultantly, it boasts a most persistent and almost predictable ghost
A by-election in
1938 enbled the town to send a message to the government and
Hitler , when an Independent anti-
Appeasement candidate was elected.
In
World War II the
Bridgwater And Taunton Canal formed part of the
Taunton Stop Line , designed to prevent the advance of a
German invasion. Pillboxes can still be seen along its length. The first bombs fell on Bridgwater on
August 24 ,
1940 , destroying houses on Old Taunton Road, and three men, three women and one child were killed. Later a
Prisoner Of War camp was established at Colley Lane, holding
Italian prisoners. During the preparations for the
Invasion Of Europe , American troops were based in the town.
1950 saw the start of a significant increase in post-war housebuilding, with
Council House estates being started at Sydenham and Rhode Lane and the former cooperative estate near Durleigh. The first council estate to be built was in the 1930s at Kendale Road, followed by those at Bristol Road.
The
1973 national reform of local government removed the historic status of Bridgwater as a
Borough , as it became part of the district of
Sedgemoor .
The
River Parrett was until recently at the centre of Bridgwater's trade, and the town grew to become a major seaport for the south west of England. The 9m (30') tidal range on the river allowed ships of up to 300 tonnes to reach the town centre. As early as
1300 the port exported maize, peas and beans to Ireland, France and Spain, and by
1400 was also exporting cloth from Somerset and the adjoining counties. By
1500 it was the largest port in Somerset, later becoming the fifth largest in England until eclipsed by
Bristol in the
18th Century . In its heyday, imports included wine, grain, fish, hemp, coal and timber. Exports included wheat, wool, cloth, cement, bricks and tiles. Unlike Bristol, Bridgwater was never involved in the
Slave Trade and, in
1797 , was the first town in Britain to petitioned the government to ban it. The Bridgwater ship the ''Emanuel'' was one of three that took part in
Martin Frobisher 's
1577 search for the
Northwest Passage . In
1828 , 40 ships were registered in the port, averaging 60 tons each.
As trade expanded with the
Industrial Revolution , Bridgwater was linked to
Taunton by the
Bridgwater And Taunton Canal (
1827 ), although initially it ran from a
Basin south of Bridgwater at
Huntworth .
As trade grew
Dock s were built in the town (the only ones in Somerset), linked to an extension of the canal, with both opening in
1841 .The docks was dredged by a scraper-dredger
Bertha similar to the one Brunel had designed for the Bristol Floating Harbour.
June 14 , 1841 saw the opening of the
Bristol And Exeter Railway from Bristol to Bridgwater. The railway also opened a coach and wagon works in the town; the last of the buildings is currently in
2005 scheduled for demolition.
Bridgwater Railway Station , designed by
Isambard Kingdom Brunel is now a Grade II
Listed Building .
An end to the unequal competition between rail and canal came in
1867 when the railway purchased the canal. Four years later, in
1871 , the River Parrett was spanned by a unique
Steam-powered telescopic bridge, to allow the railway to serve the docks, last used in
1953 (?). A
Branch Line to
Edington was opened in
1890 . A number of local branches were also buit, for example to serve the Northgate
Brewery (now replaced by a carpark north of Angel Crescent) and the former British Cellophane factory.
The importance of shipping and the docks started to decline after
1886 , the year in which the opening of the
Severn Tunnel caused a severe drop in coal imports by sea. The situation worsened as the railways were extended into Somerset and beyond, and ships became too big for the port. The last commercial use of the docks was when coal imports ceased on
July 31 ,
1971 , and although they now house a marina they are currently little used. The surrounding quays have been developed for housing, although the remains of wooden quays on the riverbank can still be seen. All but a small remnant of the ''mump'' (a huge mound of spoil from the original dock excavations) was removed in the
1980s to make way for the development on the north side of the dock.
Due to the port, making is commemorated in
Street Furnishings and paving on East Quay and in the name of ''Ropewalk'' street.
Under an
1845 Act Of Parliament the Port of Bridgwater extends from
Brean Down to
Hinkley Point in
Bridgwater Bay , and parts of the rivers
Parrett (to Bridgwater),
River Brue and
River Axe, Somerset . Although no ships now dock in the town, in 2001 103,613
Tonne s of cargo were handled within the area of the Port Authority (compared to more than 200,000
Ton s in
1878 ).
Bridgwater was the leading industrial town in Somerset. A major manufacturing centre for clay tiles and bricks in the
19th Century , including the famous "
Bath Brick ", were exported through the port. In the
1890s there were a total of 16 brick and tile companies, and 24 million bricks were exported during that decade alone. John Sealy & Co exhibited their product range at the
1851 Great Exhibition .
These industries collapsed in the aftermath of
World War II due to the failure to introduce
Mechanisation , although the automated Chiltern Tile Factory, which produced up to 5 million tiles each year, lasted until
1968 . The importance of the Bath Brick declined with the advent of
Detergent s and other cleaning products.
In the 19th century, Bridgwater was also home to a number of
Iron Foundries . George Hennet' Bridgwater Iron Works (closed
1878 ) worked on bridges, railways and machinery for Brunel and
Robert Stephenson , while W&F Wills Ltd produced
Steam Locomotives and
Fingerpost s.
, a joint venture between '''La Cellophane SA''' and
Courtaulds opened a major factory producing
Cellophane in Bridgwater
1937 . The factory produced
Bailey Bridge s during
World War II for the invasion of Europe. Bought by
UCB Films in
1996 , the factory closed in the summer of
2005 .
At the start of
World War II , the government built a factory to manufacture high explosives at Puriton near Bridgwater. Called
ROF Bridgwater , the plant is today owned by
BAE Systems and is scheduled to close by the end of
2007 .
Bridgwater is now a major centre of industry in Somerset, with industries including the production of plastics, engine parts, industrial chemicals, and foods. Bowerings Animal Feed Mill is now the only industry still located at the docks.
Employment in the town suffered a crippling blow in 2005 when
Innovia Films closed the
Cellophane factory. However recovery has begun with the establishment of new businesses on the ''Express Park'' business park including the relocation of
Gerber Foods and new enterprise Toolstation.
Being close to the M5 motorway and half way between
Bristol and
Exeter , Bridgwater is also home to two major distribution centres. The ''Excel'' centre for the
NHS Logistics Authority is located on the ''Express Park'' business park, while retailer ''
Argos '' has a regional
Distribution Centre based at
Huntworth .
Bridgwater is home to the
Somerset Brick And Tile Museum , built on part of the former Barham Brothers site (brick and tile manufacturers between
1857 and
1965 ).
Nearing Bridgwater on the M5 motorway it is possible to see a striding human figure constructed from
Willow , sometimes called the ''Angel of the South'' (see also
Angel Of The North ). Standing 12 m (39') tall, it was created by
Sculptor Serena De La Hey and is the largest known sculpture in willow, a traditional local material.
Bridgwater is home to
'The Engine Room' , the open access media centre set up by the charity
Somerset Film and video . This is the only independent media organisation in Somerset to be open to the general public for free access to equipment and free advice/training. It also piloted the first regionally specific regular
Television programme on the ''
Community Channel ''. It also runs training programmes for emergent film makers and media practitioners.
The ''Bridgwater Arts Centre'' was opened on
October 10 ,
1946 , the first community arts centre opened in the UK with financial assistance from the newly established
Arts Council Of England . It is situated in a Grade II
Listed Building in the
Architecturally protected
Georgian ''Castle Street'', designed by
Benjamin Holloway for the
Duke Of Chandos , and built over the site of the former castle. Holloway was also the
Architect of the
Baroque ''Lyons'' building on West Quay, constructed around
1730 .
Bridgwater Arts Centre was the venue for the first post-war meeting of the
Congres Internationaux D'Architecture Moderne in
1947 .
Castle Street was used as a location in the
1963 film ''
Tom Jones ''.
Horror writer and film journalist
Kim Newman was educated at Dr Morgan's school in Bridgwater, and set his
1999 experimental novel ''Life's Lottery'' in a fictionalised version of the town (Sedgwater).
A sailor who had sailed "from Bridgwater with bricks" and found "There was lice in that bunk in Bridgwater" features in
James Joyce 's
Ulysses (Chapter 16).
Bridgwater is now best known for the illuminated "
Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival " that attracts around 150,000 people from around the country and overseas. Now held annually on the Friday after the First Thursday of
November (ie - the nearest Friday to
November 5 ). It consists of a dazzling display of over 100 large vehicles up to 100 feet long, festooned with dancers and up to 22,000 lightbulbs, that follows a 2.5 mile route over 2 to 3 hours. See the seperate
West Country Carnival page for more details
Later in the evening of the Carnival, there is the simultaneous firing of large
Firework s (known as squibs) in the street outside the town hall, known as "squibbing".
Bridgwater Fair takes place in September - it starts on the Thursday, and it's three days is timed so that it's Saturday date is the last Saturday in September. The fair takes place on St Matthew's Field, better known locally as the Fair Field. The fair is now a
Funfair , ranked as second largest in England after the
Nottingham Goose Fair . It originated in
1249 as a horse and cattle
Fair , lasting for eight days near
St Matthew's Day (
September 21 ), giving the venue its name.
During the first weekend of July, the annual "Somerfest" arts festival is held in Bridgwater. The event includes an extensive program of rock, jazz and classical music, dance, drama and visual arts with national and local participants.
- Jean Rees , Artist and co-founder of the Bridgwater Arts Centre. b 1914
The
Bridgwater Constituency has been represented in Parliament since
1295 . After the voting age was lowered in January 1970, Susan Wallace became the first 18-year-old person to vote in the UK, during the
1970 Bridgwater by-election that elected Tom King.
Members of parliament have included:
:
Edmund Wyndham (1640)
:Admiral
Robert Blake (
Short Parliament of
1640 )
:Admiral
Robert Blake (
Barebones Parliament of
1653 )
:
John Tynte (1661-1669)
:
Anne Poulett (1768-1785)
:
Vernon Bartlett (Independent anti-
Appeasement ) "Popular Front" (1938-1950)
:Sir
Gerald Wills (
Conservative ) (1950-1969)
:
Tom King (Conservative) (1970-2001)
:
Ian Liddell-Grainger (Conservative) (2001- )
Bridgwater sits near the edge of the
Somerset Levels and the
Quantock Hills on the
River Parrett , which in turn discharges into the
Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve .
Bridgwater is twinned with:
- '' "Bridgwater with and without the 'e' " ''', Roger Evans, ISBN 0-9525674-0-7
- ''A History of Bridgwater'', J.C. Lawrence, ISBN 186077363X
- ''Bridgwater Victorian Days'', Philip James Squibbs, ISBN: 0-95010-221-0
- ''Somerset in the Age of Steam'', Peter Stanier, ISBN 0-86183-481-X
- ''"Remember Remember". The Story of Bridgwater Carnival'', written by Chris Hocking who is president of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee
