Information about Bridgwater

Bridgwater 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.

Among several places of worship the chief is St Mary Magdalene's church; this has a north porch and windows dating from the 14th century, besides a lofty and slender spire; but it has been much altered by restoration. It possesses a fine painted reredos. A house in Blake Street, largely restored, was the birthplace of Admiral Blake in 1598, and is now the Admiral Blake Museum. Near the town are the three old churches of Westonzoyland, Chedzoy and Middlezoy, containing some good brasses and carved woodwork.

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, it consists of a dazzling display of over 100 Carnival floats up to 100 feet long, festooned with dancers and up to 22,000 lightbulbs, that follows a 2.5-mileroute over 2 to 3 hours. Later in the evening of the Carnival, there is the simultaneous firing of large fireworks in the street outside the town hall, known as 'squibbing'. Bridgwater Fair normally takes place in September - it starts on the last Wednesday in September and lasts four days. 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. 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.

Nearing Bridgwater on the M5 motorway it is possible to see the Willow Man sculpture, a striding human figure constructed from willow, sometimes called the Angel of the South. Standing 39ft tall, it was created by sculptor Serena de la Hey and is the largest known sculpture in willow, a traditional local material.

In terms of education, Bridgwater has a proud assocation with schooling and has 25 schools, many of which are secondary schools.

Photographs of Bridgwater