Visit Bridgwater Places

Welcome to Visit Bridgwater Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Bridgwater

  

Bridgwater Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Bridgwater

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Bridgwater history

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Bridgwater proper

Bridgwater is mentioned both in the Domesday Book and in the earlier Anglo-Saxon Chronicle dating from around 800, owing its origin as a trade centre to its position at the mouth of the chief river in Somerset. It was formerly part of the Hundred of North Petherton. In a legend of Alfred the Great, he burnt some cakes while hiding in the marshes of Athelney near Bridgwater, after the Danish invasion in 875, while in 878 the major engagement of the Battle of Cynwit may have been at nearby Cannington. William Briwere was granted the lordship of the Manor of Bridgwater by King John in 1201, and founded Bridgwater Friary. Through Briwere’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). A tidal moat, up to 65 feet (20 m) wide in places, flowed about along the line of the modern thoroughfares of Fore Street and Castle Moat, and between Northgate and Chandos Street. The main entrance opposite the Cornhill was built with a pair of adjacent gates and drawbridges. 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 feet (4 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. William 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. William Briwere also went on to found the Franciscan Bridgwater Friary in the town. During the 13th century Second Barons’ War against Henry III, Bridgwater was held by the barons against the King. Other charters were granted by Henry III in 1227 (confirmed in 1318, 1370, 1380), which gave Bridgwater a guild merchant which was important for the regulation of trade, allowing guild members to trade freely in the town, and to impose payments and restrictions upon others. 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. Bridgwater was incorporated by charter of Edward IV (1468), confirmed in 1554, 1586, 1629 and 1684. Parliamentary representation as a borough constituency began in 1295 and continued until 1870, when the original borough constituency was disenfranchised for corruption; from 4 July 1870 the town was incorporated within the county constituency of West Somerset. When Parliamentary seats were redistributed for the 1885 general election, a new county division of Bridgwater was created. A variety of markets were granted to the town during the Middle Ages including a Midsummer fair (on 24 June), one at the beginning of Lent was added in 1468, and one at Michaelmas. The importance of these markets and fairs for the sale of wool and wine, and later of cloth, declined after medieval times. The shipping trade of the port revived after the construction of the new dock in 1841, and corn and timber have been imported for centuries. Gunpowder Plotter Guy Fawkes is remembered during the carnival season, including a grand illuminated procession through Bridgwater town centre, which culminates in the Squibbing. Bridgwater, being staunchly Protestant at the time of the plot celebrated the thwarting of the conspiracy with particular enthusiasm. In the English Civil War the town and the castle were held by the Royalists under Colonel Edmund 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 Oliver 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 21 July 1645. The castle itself was deliberately destroyed (slighted) the following year, while in 1651 Colonel Wyndham made arrangements for Charles II to flee to France following the Battle of Worcester. Following the restoration of the monarchy, in 1663 the non-conformist Reverend John Norman, vicar from 1647 to 1660, was one of several ‘religious fanatics’ confined to their homes by Lord Stawell’s militia. A large religious meeting house, thought to have been Presbyterian, was demolished and its furniture burned on the Cornhill in 1683. By 1688, matters had calmed down enough for a new chapel, Christ Church, to be founded in Dampiet Street, the congregation of which became Unitarian in 1815. In the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion, the rebel Duke of Monmouth was proclaimed King on the Cornhill in Bridgwater and in other local towns. He eventually led his troops on a night-time attack on the King’s position near Westonzoyland. Surprise was lost when a musket was accidentally discharged, and the Battle of Sedgemoor resulted in defeat for the Duke. He was later beheaded at the Tower of London, and nine locals were executed for treason. The Chandos Glass Cone was built in 1725 as a glasswork firing kiln by James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos as part of an industrial development. After a short period of use for glassmaking it was converted for the production of pottery, bricks and tiles, which continued until 1939. The majority of the brickwork cone was demolished in 1943. The bottom 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) has been preserved and scheduled as an ancient monument. Bridgwater became the first town in Britain to petition the government to ban slavery, in 1785. The population of Bridgwater in 1841 was 9,899. In 1896, the trade unionists 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 after the reading of the Riot Act. A by-election in 1938 enabled the town to send a message to the government and Hitler, when an Independent anti-appeasement candidate, journalist Vernon Bartlett was elected MP. 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 24 August 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. The first council estate to be built was in the 1930s at Kendale Road, followed by those at Bristol Road. The 1950s 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. On 4 November 2011 West Quay alongside the River Parrett and 19 adjoining properties were evacuated after a 40 metres (130 ft) stretch of the retaining wall partially collapsed after heavy rain and flooding. The old hospital in Salmon Parade, which was built in 1813, closed in 2014 and has been replaced with a community hospital in Bower Lane. This provides a maternity unit and 30 inpatient beds. The old hospital site has been sold for development at a price of £1.6 million, and may be turned into a hotel.

Port of Bridgwater

Port of Bridgwater was part of the Port of Bristol until 1348, covering 80 miles of the Somerset coast line. In the medieval period the River Parrett was used to transport Hamstone from the quarry at Ham Hill. Historically, the main port on the river was at Bridgwaters, the first bridge was built in 1200.

Bridgwater economy & business

Industry

Bridgwater was the leading industrial town in Somerset and remains a major centre for manufacturing. A major manufacturing centre for clay tiles and bricks in the 19th century, including the famous “Bath brick”, were exported through the port. The importance of the Bath Brick declined with the advent of detergents and other cleaning products. The town suffered a blow in 2005 when Innovia Films closed the cellophane factory.

Bridgwater etymology

It is thought that the town was originally called Brigg, meaning quay. In the Domesday Book the town is listed as Brugie, while Brugia was also used. After the Norman invasion the land was given to Walter of Douai, hence becoming known variously as Burgh-Walter.

Bridgwater landmarks

Bridgwater is home to the Somerset Brick and Tile Museum, built on part of the former Barham Brothers site. Castle House was one of the first to make extensive use of concrete demonstrating “an innovative interpretation of traditional masonry features in concrete” Sydenham House was previously a manor estate built in the early 16th century.

You can visit Bridgwater places with Walkfo Bridgwater to hear history at Bridgwater’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Bridgwater has 39 places to visit in our interactive Bridgwater map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Bridgwater, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Bridgwater places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Bridgwater & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 39 audio facts unique to Bridgwater places in an interactive Bridgwater map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Bridgwater Places Map
39 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Bridgwater historic spots	Bridgwater tourist destinations	Bridgwater plaques	Bridgwater geographic features
Walkfo Bridgwater tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Bridgwater

  

Best Bridgwater places to visit

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Bridgwater has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Bridgwater’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Bridgwater’s information audio spots:

Scott Cinema, Bridgwater Scott Cinema is a cinema in Bridgwater, Somerset England. Built in 1936, it is notable for its Art Deco style. It was originally known as the Odeon Cinema.

King Square, Bridgwater King Square in Bridgwater within the English county of Somerset was laid out with large Georgian houses between 1770 and 1800. It is also the site of the Bridgwaters War Memorial.

Castle House, Bridgwater Castle House is a house in Bridgwater, Somerset, England. Built in 1851 to resemble a Tudor gatehouse, the construction uses panels of prefabricated concrete, with significant further usage of concrete throughout the building.

Chandos Glass Cone Chandos Glass Cone in Bridgwater, Somerset, was built in 1725 as a kiln for a glassworks. After a short period of use for glassmaking the kiln was converted to the production of pottery, bricks and tiles. The remains have been scheduled as an ancient monument.

St George’s Church, Wembdon Anglican St George’s Church was founded in the 13th century in the village of Wembdon in Somerset. The current building dates from the 14th and 15th century but was largely rebuilt in 1868 after a fire. It is a Grade II listed building.

Church of St Hugh, Durleigh The Church of St Hugh at Durleigh in the English county of Somerset was built in the 11th century. It is a Grade II* listed building.

Church of the Holy Trinity, Chilton Trinity The Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity at Chilton Trinity in Somerset was established in the 13th century. It is a Grade II* listed building.

Sydenham House, Somerset Sydenham House, the manor house of the ancient manor, is a grade II listed building, constructed in the early 16th century and refronted and rebuilt after 1613. In 1937 British Cellophane Ltd set up production and built extensive factories on 59 acres of land (“Sydenham Manor Fields”) adjacent to the house. Production ceased in 2005 and between 2010 and 2015 the industrial site was razed to the ground.

Visit Bridgwater plaques