Medieval History of Bridgwater
Bridgwater's origins
Bridgwater can trace its origins back to the Saxon Chronicles of 800
A.D. where it is referred to as Bruggie being the Saxon word for
quayside or fording place. And Bridgwater would have been both of these.
It was here that the river narrows down in width for the first time in
its fourteen meandering miles from the sea.
During the 9th century, Bridgwater witnessed the unwanted presence of
the Danes who were now raiding up the rivers and deeper into the
Somerset hinterland. In 878 A.D. they landed at nearby Combwich
resulting in a major battle at Cannington. These raids continued until
Alfred beat the Danes at Edington.
In 1066, a Saxon, Earl Merleswain, was in control of Bridgwater, which
was still called simply Bruggie or Bryjg, amongst numerous other
spellings. It was probably Merleswain built the first Christian church
here on the site where St. Mary's now stands. Bridgwater was still
relatively small and formed part of the North Petherton hundred.
With William the Conqueror's arrival, Bridgwater came under the control
of Walter from Douai in France. Hence Bruggie became Bruggie de Walteri,
and then Bridgwater. This accounts for the absence of the 'e' on Bridg
but does not explain how or when the 'l' was lost from Walter.
The Domesday Book shows Bridgwater as 5 hides, effectively 5 extended
families. It translates as follows:
Walscin (Walter) holds Bridgwater. Merleswain held it before
1066. It paid tax for 5 hides and had land for 10 ploughs. In Lordship
were 3 ploughs and 5 slaves. There were 13 villagers, 9 smallholders
and 5 cottagers with 8 ploughs. A mill which paid 5 shillings had 100
acres of woodland, 10 acres of meadow and 30 acres of pasture. Value
when acquired was 100 shillings and has now increased to £7.
By 1200 A.D., Bridgwater was under the stewardship of William Briwer,
a close friend and hunting partner of King John, who visited the town on
5 occasions between 1204 and 1210. It was William Briwer who persuaded
King John to grant Bridgwater its freedom by granting it borough status
(see King John's charter of 1200 A.D.).
The Augustine Priory of St. John
William Briwer allowed an Augustine Priory to be built around 1216 on
the east side of Bridgwater dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The grant
was for 5 acres of land in order to maintain 13 poor and infirm persons
plus pilgrims and religious persons passing through the town with some
notable exceptions. For some reason the friars were excused from tending
to the needs of lunatics, lepers, pregnant women and those with
contagious diseases.
Within the hospital grounds was the church of St. Katharine, a herb and
vegetable garden and a fish pond for Friday meals. The original purpose
of the church was to care for the sick and the traveller but by 1298
Geoffrey, the prior, had bound himself to tach 13 scholars who lived
within the grounds.
In 1381, the hospital became the centre of attention at the end of the
Wat Tyler rebellion. An ugly mod was raised, led by a priest Nicolas
Frompton and a yeoman, Thomas Engilby, who claimed legal right to the
vicarage of St. John. They forced entry, seized William Camel, the
master, and destroyed various bonds detailing the debts owed to the
hospital. They then attacked Sydenham Manor beofre heading for Ilchester
Gaol. There they removed Hugh Lavenham, and Walter Baron, beheaded them
and had their heads placed on spears on Bridgwater's town bridge.
The Franciscan Greyfriars
In Bridgwater's Friarn Street was the order of Grey Friars, Franciscans.
In Silver Street today can be found a mediaeval door believed to be the
only relic of the old priory. The order survived on this site for over
300 years. |
