The Somerset town of Bridgwater was an important port on the River Parrett in the Middle Ages, linked inland during the Industrial Revolution with the construction of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. Bridgwater became the main manufacturing town in Somerset, including shipbuilding, iron foundries and the manufacture of clay tiles and bricks and cellophane. Although these industries have declined in the later twentieth century, it is still a major industrial centre with a diverse cultural life, including an arts centre, music festivals, its Guy Fawkes Carnival and the second biggest fair in the country.
In A-Z of Bridgwater author Lynne Cleaver delves into the history of the town, highlighting well-known landmarks, events and famous residents, such as Admiral Robert Blake's birthplace, the Somerset Brick and Tile Museum and the historic port and quayside and the Battle of Sedgemoor fought on the Somerset Levels outside the town, as well as digging beneath the surface to uncover some of the lesser-known facts about Bridgwater and its hidden places of interest. This fascinating A-Z tour of Bridgwater's history is fully illustrated and will appeal to all those with an interest in this Somerset town.
