AXBRIDGE, a market-town and parish having
separate jurisdiction, locally
in the hundred of Winterstoke,
county of SOMERSET,
18 miles (S. by W.) from
Bristol, and 130 (W. by S.)
from London, containing
988 inhabitants. This place,
which derives name from
its bridge oyer the river
Axe, was formerly the residence
of some of the West Corporate Seal.
Saxon monarchs, by whom it was invested with many
privileges. The town is of mean appearance and indifferently
paved, but amply supplied with water. The chief
occupation of the poorer class of inhabitants is the
knitting of stockings. The navigation of the river Axe
has been greatly improved by an act obtained in 1802,
whereby it has also been made toll-free. The market
is on Saturday: fairs are held on February 2nd, March
25th, June llth, and October 28th; those in February
and March are very large cattle fairs, and at the others
great quantities of butter are brought from the adjacent
country, and sold to dealers for the Bristol market.
The government of the town, by charter of Queen
Elizabeth., is vested in a mayor, bailiff, recorder, one
alderman, fifteen common council-men, and twenty-two
burgesses, assisted by a town clerk, two mace bearers,
and subordinate officers. The corporation hold a court
of session quarterly for the borough. A court of record for
pleas under £ 10 was formerly held, but it has fallen
into disuse. The council-house, an ancient building, is
in a very dilapidated state. Axbridge sent members to
parliament in the 23rd of Edward I., but the right was
discontinued in the 17th of Edward III,, on petition of
the burgesses. The living is a discharged rectory, in
the archdeaconry of Wells, and diocese of Bath and
Wells, rated in the king's books at £ 11. 4. 4., endowed
with & 132 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty,
and in the patronage of the Bishop of Bath and Wells.
The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is a very
ancient structure, occupying an elevated situation on
the north-eastern side of the town, supposed to have
been erected by one of the West Saxon monarchs, two
of whose statues formerly ornamented the tower. There
are places of worship for Particular Baptists and Wesleyau
Methodists. Near the town is a mineral spring,
which has been found efficacious in chronic diseases.