Bridgwater
Bridgwater photos (81 available)
Bridgwater maps (2 available)
Map of Somerset
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Bridgwater books (10 available)
- 6 photos on Bridgwater appear in 4 Frith books - View photos of Bridgwater
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Bridgwater and Somerset
Bridgwater memories
Read and share memories of Bridgwater and Somerset inspired by Frith photos
Shopping memories.
My father was a greengrocer and his shop appears in this photograph on the left side going into the Rex Cinema arcade, a butchers shop was on the right side. During the war years and into the very early 1950s, he was the largest greengrocer in Bridgwater, having the Eastover shop and one in Taunton Road, my parents looking after one each. They also had a third shop which my sister ran for several years. That section of Eastover, including the Rex arcade, Mr Jeal the ironmonger and several other shops were demolished in the early 1960s to make way for the rather bland row of shops that now occupy the spot.
Contributed by Mr J Haines
holidays
We spent many a happy holiday in the Bridgwater area, sometimes staying on a farm just outside Bridgwater and in later years in a flat in the holiday village in nearby Burnham on Sea. Many wonderful memories of my dead parents and dogs!
Contributed by sue bowles
Broadway Lido.....My Home
Yes.....the Broadway Lidi was my home. I am Stuart Smith, my father Gordon Smith was the first manager (well, they called it superintendent then) at the Lido. We moved there when I was about 3 years old, and lived in a detached house adjacent to the Lido. I recall doing the "Inaugural Plunge" in front of Princess Alexandra......who presented me with a new pair of trunks, for performing the feat.
The Vauxhall car, which you see in the photo (below Lido sign), belonged to Wilf Pine, my father's deputy. Our house was just out of shot, to the right. We often had rugby balls landing in our garden, from Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Club, who played in the adjoining field. ...read more here
Contributed by stuart smith
Ford Dealership
It's not really a memory I have of this picture, but my 1956 Ford Popular was supplied by the Ford Dealership, A & S White of 37 St. Mary Street, seen on the right in this picture. Now apparently a Weatherspoons Pub.
Contributed by Greg Pryce
Extracts From Bridgwater & Somerset books
This view shows the shipping staithes at Bridgwater, this time downstream from the Town Bridge. Inevitably, the town is much changed now, with made-up roads, much more building - and no ships.
An extract from from"Canals and Waterways".
In years gone by, the river Parrett carried a large volume of traffic. Although the Town Bridge was the limit for fixed-masted vessels, barges and similar vessels could – and did – trade up-river as far as Langport.
An extract from from"Canals and Waterways".
In years gone by, the river Parrett carried a large volume of traffic. Although the Town Bridge was the limit for fixed-masted vessels, barges and similar vessels could - and did - trade up-river as far as Langport.
An extract from from"Canals and Waterways".
Bridgwater prospered in the early 19th century thanks to its brick and tile industry, and many buildings in the High Street date from that time. The reconstruction narrowed the street, which once had a row of shops down the middle. To the left is the spire of St Mary’s Church.
An extract from from"Somerset Living Memories".
This memorial to Admiral Blake stands in front of the Regency Market House. Erected in 1900, it reads: ‘Robert Blake, born in this town 1598, died at sea 1657’. Among his great achievements was his victory at Santa Cruz off Tenerife, where he destroyed a Spanish treasure fleet.
An extract from from"Somerset Living Memories".