P R E F A C E E3 7 7 P1 l K H IT a ffo rds pl easu r e to th e Auth or of this book to find that alth ou gh only a few month s have passed since its u a on a e on on is r uir d a s s ms p blic ti , S c d Editi eq e , it ee f a proo that it ha s been acceptabl e t o th e general u B r wa er and its ne ou r o p blic . idg t ighb ho d th e reader w find rom an e amina n n o its An en H s r ill f x tio i t ci t i to y, have been a t cer ta in periods p eculiarly mixed up with the historv o f o u r oun r n ee e en s a e oc ured c t y, i d d v t h v c which w ere t urnin g points of great interest a nd import A f r a e een u se to aff ance . s e fo t s h v b d ord litera ry amu semen and n orma on the e n on is t i f ti , S co d Editi l aun e in e h a it ma be orne on the e of ch d hop , t t y b tid 81100688 . H OP E . ’ ' er e s o e in th e ar ness ere s o e in the Th H p d k , th H p light , ’ ’ ere s o e to the ea e u ere s o e in th e Th H p p c f l, th H p fight, ’ ere s o e on th e mo u n a n w en w ene w o s Th H p t i , h hit d ith fl ck , ' ere s o e on t h e o ean w e n w a es a s th e r o s Th H p c , h v d h ck , ’ ’ w e r e o f n ere s o e in t h e m ne e n ea e s a e . Th H p i , h d p iv d H v f c ' ere s o e w en t h e a eronau ts a n s in s a e Th H p h v i h p c , ’ ere H 0 e f or th e s u f erer w s e oo s l ow s Th s p f hil t lif bl d til fl , ’ ere s o e f or the on e r a e w w o es Th H p c vict, d g d d ith , W en no m se of or of o can be seen h gli p light j y , W s a e on th e s ene hen car e u pon car e c asts it s h d c . Be ar 11 oo r s an be a u a nd rue g d Ch i ti , f ithf l t , A nd o f n m er w w a t u on ou opes o u t u b ill i p y , wil an e the dee s a o ws a ar en ou r w a It l ch g h d th t d k y y , T d r f a o t he sm es and t h e bess n s an ness o d . il l i g , b ight y 11098 7 7 T H E A N C I E N T HISTOR& OF BRIDGWAT E R. UR old town is situated in t he h eart of Somerset re The an aro n is e u ar r shi . l d u d it p c li ly ich and fertile ; the po pul a tion of th e b orough at th e last censu s ‘ e ee e wel e o san . h as a r us r er xc d d t v th u d It ci cuito iv , ere t he a a e s e in th e da s me ime wh tid l w v flow twic y, o t s r s n a ea o f six ee and a t s rin i s u hi g up with h d f t, p g t de n h e o f en ee e ri sin g ofte to t h eight tw ty f t. Th re is a se men e on the an s of the r er has di t l ft b k iv , which on een a sour e of ea to the mer an s l g b c w lth ch t , and gives considerable empl oyment to the labouring m s s men r ks are manu a eo e . ro e r e p pl F thi di t b ic f ctu d, w en n s e and r e off are of a e o r hich wh fi i h d d i d , whit col u . These bricks are called scou ring-brick s they have been im r er s me a e Ba r s can o n p op ly, by o , c ll d th b ick , which ly be accounted for by their b eing so methin g of the col our ‘ of B a s ne T e are n m a e at B rid th to . h y o ly d g wa ter ; they have been found u seful for many m anufac n d r e e ur ur se s an are now a r e . T s t i g p po , l g ly xpo t d hi p eculiar cla y can o nly be ' ga th ered within a mil e of th e n on e er s e e n a st an e o ar s tow ith id ; if b yo d th t di c , t w d the see ere is in the m t ur e too m san and , th ix uc h d, if a in the Oppo site direction too much cl y . There is a considerable depth of excell ent clay in the an s aroun t h e own ro m a r e man a re l d d t , f which uf ctu d n r s i es and er o s o f V er s er r buildi g b ick , t l oth g od y up io al s ma e ra e qu ity . Thi y be termed the stapl t d . Still t her e are many other sources of trade quantities of oak “ S a lmo n caught in th e r iver Parrett is highly prize d f or it s excel lent flav our formerly w h en th e lands b or dering on t he river were un r a ne reater a l w as en f or th e fi sh t o s awn and t h d i d, g f ci ity giv p , e r er was no t so is ur e essel s as at resen ons e uen ] sal iv d t b d by v p t, c q t mon was o a n er 1h . is re or ed a s bu dant it was sold abou t 2d . p It c d yth t in ol d indentu res of a ppr enticeship a clau se was inserte d that the a prentice should not be oblige d to eat sa lmon more th an twice a wee 4 Tbe A ncient H istor o B r id wa ter y f g . and el m timber gro wn in o ur neighbour ho od are from - me to me e or e . T ere a re floatin o s w ere ti ti xp t d h g d ck , h esse s ar e s e can s a r e e r ar oes so a v l of l g iz di ch g th i c g , th t a ons era e ore n a s e a s oa s n ra e is a rr e c id bl f ig , w ll c ti g t d c i d — a ra e es e a T ere is a o o n the co l t d p ci lly . h line f com municat ion from th e do cks to th e B ri s tol and Exeter a wa n r ea a t o ra e ransa ons R il y , givi g g t f cility t d t cti . The p ublic bu ildings and shop s are of a superior de Th e er a mar e - da is e n W n scrip t ion . gen l k t y h ld o ed es er is a so a ro s on mar e o n a ur a day th e l p vi i k t S t d y .