294:
60:
41:
416:
403:; once they had seized the throne, the castle was returned to the Mortimer family but its upkeep was neglected and part of the moat was filled in. Only St Mark's Chapel and a barn were repaired, until the 1380s and 1390s when the towers, gatehouse and barbican were reinforced. By 1450 private houses had been built within the walls, Fore Street had been extended over the moat and its military value was reducing. It the 1540s
533:
67:
552:, who sold it the following year to John Anderton, whose descendants continued to clear old buildings and construct new ones. King's Square was built between 1807 and 1814, with many of the buildings incorporating stone from the old castle, although further study would be needed to say how much of their cellars and foundations are in situ castle walls.
493:
the following year, when parliament ordered that the garrison was disbanded. The extent of the order was debated and clarified again in 1647 and still debated in 1656. More recent studies argue, based on eyewitness descriptions, that much of the castle had already been destroyed and it was just some
367:
William Brewer died in 1226 and his son, also called
William, died in 1232; after his death, the castle passed to the king the following year, after which it was used as a store and prison. In 1242 repairs were ordered to its
321:, up to 65 feet (20 m) wide in places, flowed about along the current streets of Fore Street and Castle Moat, and between Northgate and Chandos Street. The moat was filled from Durleigh brook, a tributary of the
395:
undertook a campaign against the
Mortimers, by then a potentially rebellious Marcher Lord family. After the short war, the crown again occupied Bridgwater until 1326 to prevent
325:. There is some evidence that there was a weir between the moat and the river. Unusually, the main entrance opposite the Cornhill was built with a pair of adjacent gates and
1508:
230:
It then fell into ruin and parts were demolished in the first half of the 17th century and a new house built. Some of the walls survived and it played a minor role in the
238:. In the later 17th and early 18th centuries many of the remaining buildings were demolished and new residential and industrial buildings constructed, giving its name to
509:
and one of the most famous
English admirals of the 17th century, he is not thought to have been involved in the fighting in the town, although he was involved in the
341:. Built on the only raised ground in the town, the castle controlled the crossing of the town bridge. There is documentary evidence describing the castle as having "
540:
During the later part of the 17th century John Harvey continued the development of the site. In 1721 the remains of the castle, the house and the land was sold to
360:
can still be seen on West Quay, and the remains of a wall of a building that was probably built within the castle can be viewed in Queen Street, and the garden of
399:
using it as a base for operations if he should escape from custody or return from exile in France. Roger
Mortimer did return from France with Edward's wife,
1036:"Bridgwater In: A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6, andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and Neighbouring Parishes)"
681:
544:
who developed an industrial centre in the town and demolished the last of the buildings. Much of the site was built on in the 1720s to create the
Georgian
893:
45:
Remains of the mansion on the site of the castle keep, with houses to the right on Castle Street. Lithograph after a painting in the mid 18th century by
282:
and a market rapidly followed, effectively creating the heart of a new town. Initially
Bridgwater faced competition from the established nearby port of
580:
In 2008, during sewer renovation work, a section of the curtain wall of the castle and a tunnel used to transport goods from the port were discovered.
753:
1199:
131:
353:), a chapel (St Marks), hall (Mortemere's Hall) and chamber, stables, kitchens, horse mill and gatehouse as well as a bell tower and dovecote.
90:
1451:
1336:
601:
59:
439:
in 1626. Harvey leased the house to
Colonel Wyndham in 1643. The new house was in the shape of a Roman B and is shown on the map drawn by
1432:
1355:
1317:
1298:
541:
427:
Some of the external walls of
Bridgwater Castle were demolished in the early 1630s by the then owner Henry Harvey, an attorney of the
377:
1493:
1393:
567:
396:
373:
1146:
466:. Eventually, with many buildings having been destroyed in the town, the castle and its valuable contents were surrendered to the
215:
The stone castle was built around 1220 and contributed to the development of the town. It was surrounded by a moat and included a
1180:
428:
966:
1383:
293:
127:
549:
1513:
432:
606:
486:
407:
described the castle as "all going to mere ruin" and part collapsed in 1548, with a house being built on the site.
520:
of 1685 rebel troops were hemmed in at
Bridgwater on 3 July, and were ordered to refortify the town, prior to the
692:
545:
454:: the town and the castle were still seen as having value and a garrison was established by the Royalists under
440:
239:
364:. The foundations of the tower forming the north-east corner of the castle are buried beneath Homecastle House.
897:
251:
216:
163:
688:
596:
506:
404:
361:
350:
1282:
757:
502:
495:
333:, located at the south-east corner of what is now King Square, documents show that the complex included a
1061:
471:
451:
275:
263:
419:
Remains of the mansion on the site of the castle keep â mid C18. A lithograph after a painting by
381:
220:
1250:
835:
475:
436:
392:
254:, like several other castle-builders of the period, an exceptionally wealthy man. He was granted the
971:
A History of the County of
Somerset: Volume 6: Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds
1518:
571:
556:
521:
479:
420:
46:
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459:
357:
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A 12 feet (4 m) thick portion of the castle wall and water gate, which are grade II*
287:
40:
219:
giving access to the quay. In the 13th and 14th centuries the castle was involved in the
415:
1287:
505:
was born in Bridgwater and became one of the most important military commanders of the
455:
122:
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1502:
864:
575:
388:
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463:
346:
342:
310:
1224:
919:
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584:
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271:
205:
27:
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and that the buildings included the constable's house (on the high ground of
105:
92:
490:
467:
255:
317:
by boat. The site covered 8 or 9 acres (32,000 to 36,000 m). A tidal
209:
31:
372:
and some turrets and in 1246 to the towers. In 1248 ownership passed to
1470:
1374:
334:
306:
283:
279:
1062:"On this day in History JULY 22nd 1645 â'Bridgwater Under Siege'"
201:
458:. Wyndham's wife, Lady Crystabella Wyndham, fired a musket shot at
531:
414:
292:
1200:""Outstanding" smugglers tunnel unearthed beneath Castle Street"
369:
330:
318:
1117:
1115:
1113:
990:
988:
470:
on 21 July 1645. In 1651 Colonel Wyndham made arrangements for
548:. In 1734 Chandos sold the whole of the redevelopment area to
1251:"Castle wall to the rear of Nos 10 to 14 (consec) Water Gate"
566:, from Bridgwater Castle, reputed to have been slept in by
498:
which had been added for its defence which were destroyed.
943:
941:
789:
787:
785:
783:
781:
779:
777:
775:
431:, to build his new house. Harvey had purchased it from
309:
with other stone being transported from Downend in the
301:
Bridgwater Castle was a substantial structure built in
1385:
The King's Bed: Sex, Power and the Court of Charles II
278:
by King John, in 1200, charters for the creation of a
290:, but the new settlement rapidly became dominant.
242:. The watergate and some sections of wall survive.
187:
177:
169:
159:
151:
146:
138:
121:
84:
20:
1286:
1225:"Watching brief (2008), Castle Street, Bridgwater"
462:, from the castle wall, but missed and killed his
250:The castle was built early in the 13th century by
650:"Franciscan Friary and later mansion, Bridgwater"
1029:
1027:
740:
450:broke out between supporters of Charles I and
1167:
1133:
1121:
1006:
994:
8:
808:
806:
804:
802:
297:Map of the castle from 1777 by Richard Locke
1018:
716:
536:King's Square. The site of the castle today
443:in 1735 and another in 1777 by John Locke.
274:was much smaller, but after the granting a
1509:Buildings and structures completed in 1202
17:
1465:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
728:
583:Parts of the castle wall, water gate and
66:
1463:The Medieval Castle in England and Wales
1486:The David & Charles Book of Castles
1423:Lawrence, J.F.; Lawrence, J.C. (2008).
1064:. Bridgwater Westover Web. 22 July 2014
947:
836:"Castle wall, watergate and undercroft"
793:
617:
960:
958:
956:
675:
673:
671:
624:
435:who had been granted the ownership by
896:. Bridgwater Town Web. Archived from
555:The family of the Bridgwater artist,
489:suggested that the castle itself was
380:, and the castle was involved in the
270:. Before the building of the castle,
7:
1382:Jordan, Don; Walsh, Michael (2015).
1229:Somerset Historic Environment Record
1104:
924:Somerset Historic Environment Record
654:Somerset Historic Environment Record
636:
602:Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
411:Civil war and the Monmouth Rebellion
869:Pastscape National Monument Record
682:"Bridgwater archaeological survey"
542:James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
378:Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer
14:
1149:. UK Battlefields Resource Centre
568:James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
397:Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March
374:Maud de Braose, Baroness Mortimer
756:. Bridgwater.net. Archived from
65:
58:
39:
1369:. London: Christopher Johnson.
920:"Bridgwater Castle, Bridgwater"
1405:"The End of Bridgwater Castle"
1:
1488:, David & Charles, 1980.
1403:Kerr-Peterson, Miles (2013).
1348:Bridgwater: History and Guide
1198:Beal, James (10 March 2008).
1442:Leete-Hodge, Lornie (1985).
1331:. Tiverton: Somerset Books.
1293:. Wimborne: Dovecote Press.
1289:Somerset: The Complete Guide
741:Lawrence & Lawrence 2008
1484:Fry, Plantagenet Somerset,
494:of the remaining walls and
485:The 18th century historian
1535:
1446:. Bodmin: Bossiney Books.
1034:Baggs, A.P.; Siraut, M.C.
607:List of castles in England
1308:Creighton, O. H. (2005).
1231:. Somerset County Council
1185:Bridgwater Heritage Group
1042:. Victoria County History
926:. Somerset County Council
894:"Bridgwater Castle Trail"
656:. Somerset County Council
53:
38:
25:
1346:Dunning, Robert (1992).
1327:Dunning, Robert (1995).
973:. British History Online
337:, chapel, stables and a
1444:Curiosities of Somerset
1427:. Phillimore & Co.
1425:A History of Bridgwater
1019:Jordan & Walsh 2015
689:Somerset County Council
597:Bridgwater War Memorial
574:It was sold in 1972 to
507:Commonwealth of England
1461:Pounds, Nigel (1993).
1365:Farr, Grahame (1954).
1310:Castles and Landscapes
1255:historicengland.org.uk
1040:British History Online
840:historicengland.org.uk
537:
528:Rebuilding of the site
491:deliberately destroyed
446:In 1642, however, the
424:
298:
1350:. Sutton Publishing.
1084:"Siege of Bridgwater"
535:
429:Court of Common Pleas
418:
296:
276:licence to crenellate
266:in 1201, and founded
1514:Castles in Somerset
1312:. London: Equinox.
1086:. Bridgwater Museum
967:"Bridgwater Castle"
865:"Bridgwater Castle"
814:"Bridgwater Castle"
754:"Bridgwater Castle"
680:Gathercole, Clare.
639:, pp. 101â116.
572:Battle of Sedgemoor
570:at the time of the
557:John Chubb (artist)
522:Battle of Sedgemoor
480:Battle of Worcester
329:. In addition to a
102: /
1204:Bridgwater mercury
1168:Kerr-Peterson 2013
1134:Kerr-Peterson 2013
1122:Kerr-Peterson 2013
1007:Kerr-Peterson 2013
995:Kerr-Peterson 2013
698:on 18 October 2016
538:
518:Monmouth Rebellion
425:
382:Second Barons' War
299:
236:Monmouth Rebellion
221:Second Barons' War
106:51.1352°N 2.9990°W
1453:978-0-906456-99-6
1412:SANHS Proceedings
1367:Somerset Harbours
1338:978-0-86183-278-1
1107:, pp. 41â44.
796:, pp. 28â30.
511:sieges of Taunton
448:English Civil War
303:Old Red Sandstone
268:Bridgwater Friary
262:of Bridgwater by
232:English Civil War
198:Bridgwater Castle
195:
194:
182:Old Red Sandstone
73:Bridgwater Castle
21:Bridgwater Castle
1526:
1474:
1457:
1438:
1419:
1409:
1399:
1378:
1361:
1342:
1329:Somerset Castles
1323:
1304:
1292:
1270:
1269:
1267:
1265:
1259:English Heritage
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691:. Archived from
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468:Parliamentarians
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1479:Further reading
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1181:"The Chubb bed"
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816:. The Gatehouse
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564:Four-poster bed
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433:George Whitmore
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288:Down End Castle
286:, protected by
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1160:
1147:"The Campaign"
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999:
997:, p. 127.
984:
965:Dunning, R.W.
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900:on 24 May 2011
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760:on 15 May 2008
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733:
731:, p. 154.
729:Creighton 2005
721:
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629:
627:, p. 151.
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576:Agecroft Hall.
529:
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487:John Collinson
478:following the
476:flee to France
456:Edmund Wyndham
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252:William Brewer
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441:John Strachey
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389:Despenser War
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794:Dunning 1995
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561:Jacobean era
559:purchased a
554:
550:Thomas Watts
539:
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503:Robert Blake
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464:aide-de-camp
445:
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386:
376:the wife of
366:
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311:Polden Hills
300:
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197:
196:
147:Site history
15:
1283:Bush, Robin
625:Pounds 1993
516:During the
423:(1746â1818)
405:John Leland
362:Lions House
351:King Square
327:drawbridges
212:, England.
170:In use
109: /
85:Coordinates
1519:Bridgwater
1503:Categories
1471:B01K3IYTD2
1418:: 127â134.
1375:B0000CIU0I
1235:15 October
1153:16 October
1090:15 October
1068:10 October
1046:11 October
930:12 October
820:12 October
764:12 October
702:15 October
613:References
585:undercroft
472:Charles II
452:Parliament
421:John Chubb
339:bell tower
272:Bridgwater
206:Bridgwater
188:Demolished
94:51°08â˛07âłN
47:John Chubb
28:Bridgwater
1264:3 January
1105:Bush 1994
660:6 January
637:Farr 1954
501:Although
437:Charles I
393:Edward II
391:of 1321,
264:King John
217:watergate
178:Materials
173:1202-1645
97:2°59â˛56âłW
1285:(1994).
904:14 March
591:See also
460:Cromwell
401:Isabella
315:Ham Hill
256:lordship
210:Somerset
132:ST302378
32:Somerset
977:17 July
878:17 July
849:17 July
496:sconces
387:In the
335:dungeon
307:Wembdon
284:Downend
280:borough
258:of the
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358:listed
202:castle
200:was a
142:Castle
1408:(PDF)
1209:8 May
696:(PDF)
685:(PDF)
343:outer
305:from
260:Manor
152:Built
1490:ISBN
1467:ASIN
1448:ISBN
1429:ISBN
1390:ISBN
1371:ASIN
1352:ISBN
1333:ISBN
1314:ISBN
1295:ISBN
1266:2010
1237:2016
1211:2009
1155:2016
1092:2016
1070:2016
1048:2016
979:2011
932:2008
906:2010
880:2011
851:2011
822:2008
766:2008
704:2016
662:2010
370:keep
345:and
331:keep
319:moat
313:and
234:and
223:and
191:1645
155:1202
139:Type
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