*BRIDGEWATER, (Somerset) 116 cm. and 143 mm. from London, was given, after the conquest, to one Walter, a Norman; and in
all the old charters, particularly K. John's, the first that made it a free Bur. it is called Brugge-Walter, or Walter's-
Borough. The castle here was built, in the R. of K. John, by William de Brivers, Ld. of Bridgewater, who also founded the
hos. near the E. gate, which was a chantry to pray for the souls of K. Hen. II. Rich. I. and K. John. He also first made
the key, called the Haven, and began the stone bridge over the r. Parret, which was finished by the next Ld. of the manor,
Thomas Trivet, a Cornish-man. K. Edw. II. and Edw. III. confirmed its charter by K. John. Edw. IV. and Q. Eliz. or, as
some say, Hen. IV. granted it others, for changing the bailiff to the mayor, who governs it together with a recorder, 2
ald. who are justices of the peace, and 24 C.C. men. They have also a town-clerk, clerk of the Mt. water-bailiff, and 2
serjeants at mace; and out of the C.C. are annually chose 2 bailiffs, who have the same power as sheriffs, and a receiver,
who collects the town rents, and makes payments. The revenues, which consist of the manor of the Bor. the great and small
tithes, the manor of East-Stower in Dorset-shire, &c. are valued at 10000 l. a year. Its freemen are free in all the ports
of England and Ireland, but London and Dublin; and the sheriff of the Co. cannot send any process into the Bor. it having
been made a distinct Co. by Hen. VIII. It has a spacious town-hall, and a high cross with a cistern over it, to which
water is conveyed by an engine from a neighbouring brook, and carried from hence to most of the streets. Its Ch. has a
spire, the third of the loftiest in England; and here is a fine meeting-house, with an advanced seat for the mayor and
ald. who happen to be dissenters, as also a private academy for such of their youth, as are intended for preachers. Here
is a large fr. s. bel. to the chamber, and under it are lodgings for the poor of the p. Here is also a neat alms-ho. the
gift of Major Ingram of Westminster, who was a native of this T. but it is inhabited by the poor without endowment. In
1724 the late D. of Chandos built a fine street here, with convenient warehouses. Its Mts. are on Th. and S. the last
granted by Hen. VII. and its Fairs, which are two days each, are the first Tuesday in Lent, May 17, June 24, September 21,
and December 29. In a field here, called the Friars, where St. Matthew's Fair is kept, was a priory, which, in the R. of
Hen. VIII. was dissolved with the other religious houses. K. James I. granted the castle to Sir George Whitmore and Thomas
Whitmore of London, who purchased the site and Lp. from the crown: And, as the T. had been erected into an earldom in the
R. of Hen. VIII. in favour of Henry, Ld. Aubigny, with whom the title expired, K. James again dignified it with that
title, in favour of John Egerton, Lord-High-Chancellor, from whom descended the late Scrope, who was created D. by K. Ch.
I. William Harvey, Esq; bought the castle and manor in the R. of Ch. I. who by a charter gave all the parishioners the
same privileges as the burgesses. In the civil wars this T. sustained several hot sieges. It was at first garrisoned for
the Pt. but at length reduced by the Kg's forces, who held it out for him, 'till the war was almost at an end; but in 1653
it surrendered to O. Cromwell, after it had suffered severely by the siege, with a treasure, amounting to 100000 l.
besides cannon and military stores. The D. of Monmouth lodged in its castle in 1653, was proclaimed K. here, and touched
persons here for the king's evil. James II. came hither next year, and lodged in the castle, where he celebrated mass; but
his judges touched for the evil in these parts, by those butcheries which are recorded in the bloody-assizes, or western
martyrology. The T. stands 12 m. from the Startpoint, where the Parret runs into the Bristol-channel, from whence a
spring-tide flows 22 foot at the key, and comes in with so much rage and roar, that it is called a Boar. Ships of 200 tons
may come up to its key; by which convenience for navigation, they carry on a pretty good coast-trade to Bristol and all
down the Severn to Wales for coal, to Cornwal for slate, &cs. and at least 10 coal-ships are constantly employed. The
receipt of the customs here amounts to about 3000 l a year. Its foreign trade is chiefly to Portugal and Newfoundland.
Wool is brought hither in good quantities from Ireland. A great retail trade is carried on here, and its Th's Mt. is the
most considerable in the Co. for corn, cattle, hogs, sheep; and for cheese there are few, if any, greater Mts. in the Km.
many waggon loads coming in here, on a Mt.-day, for Devonshire; Tu. and S. are great flesh-Mts. and the shambles the
finest in England for their bigness. The best of provisions are so cheap here, that it may justly be called a paradise for
epicures.