Bridgwater

It is thought that the town was originally called Brigg, meaning quay. It has been argued that the name may instead come from the Old English brycg (gang plank) or Old Norse bryggja (quay), though this idea has been opposed on etymological grounds. In the Domesday Book the town is listed as Brugie, while Brugia was also used. After the Norman invasion the land was given to Walter of Douai, hence becoming known variously as Burgh-Walter, Brugg-Walter and Brigg-Walter, eventually corrupted to Bridgwater. An alternative version is that it derives from "Bridge of Walter" (i.e. Walter's Bridge). Bridgwater is mentioned both in the Domesday Book and in the earlier Anglo-Saxon Chronicle dating…

]] Bridgwater is home to the Somerset Brick and Tile Museum on East Quay which occupies a very small part of the former Barham Brothers site (brick and tile manufacturers between 1857 and 1965). The museum consists of a, repaired / restored, original bottle oven and lean-to buildings; which are a scheduled ancient monument and grade II* listed building. The otherwise empty spaces in the buildings have been reused to house many of the original moulds and handtools used by Bridgwater brick and tile makers; together with advertising material and tile pattern books; on special days visitors - children in particular - are allowed to make small clay objects, but that can't 'fire them'. The museum…