Port of Bridgwater

What can be gained from the etymology of the town's name, is that Bridgwater has been a port of trade since pre-1200AD, when the first stone bridge was built within the town, which also marked the highest point of safe navigation for seagoing vessels. The town was the lowest practical crossing point on the River Parrett, although an alternate crossing via large stones at Combwich also existed but only at low tide. Bailiffs were appointed to collect appropriate taxes, tolls and berthing fees, and were also able to rent ropes and boarding planks to visiting vessels. However, due to the high tidal flow, merchants were able to avoid taxes by landing goods in the river, whereby a vessel would be…

. Today, it is the only commercial business operating within the preserved docks site]] By the start of the 19th century, four companies dominated the ports trade: Stuckey and Bagehot; Haviland; Axford; Sully. A smaller outer basin covering 0.5 acre was connected to the inner basin by a lock and to the river by a ship lock consisting of a single 40 ft gate, and a barge lock, consisting of a pair of 14 ft gates. The whole outer basin could be used as a lock by larger ships up to 600 tons. The estimated cost of £25,000 for the scheme escalated to nearly £100,000, most of which was raised by mortgage. Trade increased from 90000 LT in 1840, before the harbour opened, to 120000 LT shortly…