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Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a historic market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. The town had a population of 41,276 at the 2021 census. Bridgwater is at the edge of the Somerset Levels, in level and well-wooded country. The town lies along both sides of the River Parrett; it has been a major inland port and trading centre since the industrial revolution. Most of its industrial bases still stand today. Its larger neighbour, Taunton, is linked to Bridgwater via a canal, the M5 motorway and the Great Western Railway, GWR railway line. Historically, the town had a politically radical tendency. The Battle of Sedgemoor, where the Monmouth Rebellion was finally crushed in 1685, was fought nearby. Notable buildings include the St Mary's Church, Bridgwater, Church of St Mary and Blake Museum, which is a largely restored house in Blake Street and was the birthplace of Robert Blake (admiral), Admiral Blake in 1598. The town has an arts centre and plays host to the annual West Country Carnival, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bridgwater (UK Parliament Constituency)
Bridgwater is a United Kingdom constituencies, parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2024 by Ashley Fox of the Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party. It elects one Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. From 2010 to 2024 it was replaced by the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. Further to the completion of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, the seat has been re-established for the 2024 United Kingdom general election, 2024 general election, primarily formed from the now abolished of Bridgwater and West Somerset seat but excluding the area comprising the former West Somerset, District of West Somerset. History Bridgwater was one of the original Parliamentary Constituency, Parliamentary Constituencies in the United Kingdom House of Commons, House of Commons, having elected ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
River Parrett
The River Parrett is a river that flows through the counties of Dorset and Somerset in South West England, from its source in the Thorney Mills springs in the hills around Chedington in Dorset. Flowing northwest through Somerset and the Somerset Levels to its mouth at Burnham-on-Sea, into the Bridgwater Bay nature reserve on the Bristol Channel, the Parrett and its tributaries drain an area of – about 50 per cent of Somerset's land area, with a population of 300,000. The Parrett's main tributaries include the Rivers Tone, Isle, and Yeo, and the River Cary via the King's Sedgemoor Drain. The long river is tidal for up to Oath. Between Langport and Bridgwater, the river falls only , so it is prone to frequent flooding in winter and during high tides. Many approaches have been tried since at least the medieval period to reduce the incidence and effect of floods and to drain the surrounding fields. In Anglo-Saxon times, the river formed a boundary between ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Port Of Bridgwater
The Port of Bridgwater is a port, originally located in the town of Bridgwater, Somerset, England. Created under the Bridgwater Navigation and Quays Act 1845 ( 8 & 9 Vict. c. lxxxix) it extends from Brean Down to Hinkley Point in Bridgwater Bay, and parts of the rivers Parrett (to Bridgwater), River Brue and River Axe. Although no ships now dock in the town, in 2001 103,613 (metric) tonnes of cargo were handled within the area of the Port Authority (compared to more than 200,000 tons (approximately equivalent to metric tonnes) in 1878), most of which were stone products through the wharf at Dunball. History Etymology of the name The origins of the name of the town of Bridgwater are much debated by historians, with options coming from: *Brigg, meaning ''quay'' *Old English ''brycg'' (gang plank) *Old Norse ''bryggja'' (quay), though this idea has been opposed on etymological grounds. In the Domesday Book the town is listed as Brugie, but after the Norman invasion the land wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
St Mary's Church, Bridgwater
The Parish Church of St Mary, more commonly known as St Mary's, is the main Church of England parish church for the town of Bridgwater, Somerset. Originally founded well before the Norman Conquest, the present church is a large and impressive structure dating primarily from the 14th and 15th centuries, with both earlier remains and later additions. The church is notable for its Gothic architecture, large stained glass windows, and unusually tall spire, a rarity in Somerset, a county known for its tall and elaborate church towers. With a height of 174 feet (53 m), it is the tallest medieval spire in the county. Architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner, author of the '''Buildings of England series, describes the spire as "exceedingly elegant". The church is also of considerable interest for housing an exceptionally rare and unusually large painting depicting the Descent from the Cross. The artist of the painting is unknown but is generally attributed (controversially) to either ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
West Country Carnival
The West Country Carnival Circuits are an annual celebration featuring a parade of illuminated carts in the English West Country. The celebration dates back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The purpose is to raise money for local Charitable organization, charities. The series of parades in each town now form a major regional festival. Some carts cost in excess of £40,000 to build and are the result of thousands of hours work throughout the year. History The timing of the West Country Carnival close to the British celebration of Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night on 5 November is no coincidence, as the roots of the original carnival in Bridgwater date back to 1605. Guy Fawkes is the character most associated with the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, however the instigator was Society of Jesus, Jesuit priest Robert Parsons (Jesuit), Robert Parsons from Nether Stowey, a short distance from Bridgwater. Parsons and his colleagues Edmund Campion and Ralph Emerson (Jesuit), Ralp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blake Museum
The Blake Museum is in Bridgwater, Somerset, England at what is believed to be the birthplace of Robert Blake, General at Sea (1598–1657). Since April 2009 it has been run by Bridgwater Town Council with help from the Friends of Blake Museum. It has been an Accredited Museum since 2006. It is next door to the Bridgwater Town Mill, and there are plans to develop this as an extension of the museum. History of the building The building is believed to be the birthplace of Robert Blake, General at Sea. It was built in the late 15th or early 16th century, and has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building. The three-storey two-bay structure is built of limestone with some hamstone and a mixture of English bond and Flemish bond brickwork. Some of the ceilings are original including one of six panels divided by chamfered beams and a roundel in the middle of each panel. One of the fireplaces has a Tudor oak lintel. In the mid C19 the building was occupied by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bridgwater Town Hall
Bridgwater Town Hall is a municipal building in the High Street, Bridgwater, Somerset, England. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Bridgwater Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building. History The first municipal building in Bridgwater was the guildhall in Fore Street which dated back to the mid-14th century. It included a council chamber, a sergeant's room and a small room for records. Meanwhile, an assize hall was built in Penel Orlieu, later known as Clare Street, for the purpose of holding the regular meetings of the courts of assize, in 1720. In the early 1820s, civic leaders formed an improvement committee which included the local member of parliament, Sir Thomas Lethbridge, whose family seat was at Sandhill Park, with the objective of financing a new municipal building. The new building was designed by Richard Carver in the Regency style, built in brick with a stucco façade and was completed in 1823. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage wit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Blake (admiral)
Robert Blake (27 September 1598 – 7 August 1657) was an English naval officer who served as general at sea and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports from 1656 to 1657. Blake served under Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War and Anglo-Spanish War, and as the commanding Admiral of the State's Navy during the First Anglo-Dutch War. Blake is recognized as the "chief founder of England's naval supremacy", a dominance subsequently inherited by the British Royal Navy well into the early 20th century.Westminster Abbey Despite this, due to deliberate attempts to expunge the Parliamentarians from historical records following the Stuart Restoration, Blake's achievements tend to remain relatively unrecognized. Blake's successes, however, are considered to have "never been excelled, not even by Nelson" according to one biographer, Yexley, 1911, p. 22 while Blake is often compared with Nelson by others. Early life Robert Blake was the first son of thirteen children born to Hum ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Somerset
Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. The largest settlement is the city of Bath, Somerset, Bath, and the county town is Taunton. Somerset is a predominantly rural county, especially to the south and west, with an area of and a population of 965,424. After Bath (101,557), the largest settlements are Weston-super-Mare (82,418), Taunton (60,479), and Yeovil (49,698). Wells, Somerset, Wells (12,000) is a city, the second-smallest by population in England. For Local government in England, local government purposes the county comprises three Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority areas: Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and Somerset Council, Somerset. Bath and North East Somerset Council is a member of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bridgwater War Memorial
Bridgwater War Memorial is a Grade II* listed war memorial located on King Square in Bridgwater, Somerset, England, on the site previously occupied by Bridgwater Castle. It was designed by John Angel in the mid-1920s. The green figure of the memorial is allegorical, representing "''Civilization'' as a seated female, holding a globe in one hand and with the book of knowledge on her lap." . Description John Angel sculpted the Angel of Bridgwater. Mounted on a plinth, a female figure of 'Civilisation' lofts the world, which is encircled by emblems of commerce and peace. Under her foot are the "demons of war." The throne and figure are backed by "relief depictions of Labour, Home, Life and Education." On her lap is a book of laws, and she is surrounded by children. Indeed, given its monumental breadth, the many details in the design, and its metaphorical and iconic form, the sculpture is subject to colorful and variant interpretations and description. The bronze was cast by W Mo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Corn Exchange, Bridgwater
The Corn Exchange is a commercial building in Cornhill, Bridgwater, Somerset, England. The structure, which is now used as a chain restaurant, is a Grade I listed building. History As early as the 14th century, there was a shambles for the sale of farm products on Cornhill. In the late 18th century, local merchants decided to commission a purpose-built "corn market": this was a rectangular structure built in brick and completed in 1791. After the north and south sides of the corn market were demolished to facilitate road widening in 1825, the building was remodelled, to a design by John Bowen in the neoclassical style, and encased in ashlar stone in 1834. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of three bays onto Cornhill. The central bay featured a prominent circular portico formed by a colonnade of Ionic order columns supporting an entablature, a cornice, and a parapet. The portico was surmounted by a drum-shaped structure, with panels decorated by paterae, topped by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Somerset Brick And Tile Museum
The Somerset Brick and Tile Museum is in Bridgwater, Somerset, England and is administered by The South West Heritage Trust. The museum is dedicated to the Brick and Tile Industry of Somerset. Bridgwater had been a centre of trade and industry since the Middle Ages, benefiting from local clay from the alluvial deposits of the River Parrett to make bricks and tiles. In the 1840s there were 1,300 people in Bridgwater employed making bricks and tiles. 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 has been preserved and scheduled as an ancient monument. It incorporates the last surviving 'pinnacle kiln' in Bridgwater, which dates from the 19th century, and has been scheduled as a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
