Burrowbridge
| Burrowbridge | |
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
 The bridge over the Parrett at Burrowbridge | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST3530 |
| Location: | 51°4’16"N, 2°55’8"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 508 (2011) |
| Post town: | Bridgwater |
| Postcode: | TA7 |
| Dialling code: | 01823 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Somerset West and Taunton |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Taunton Deane |
Burrowbridge is a village in Somerset, on the River Parrett and the A361 road on the edge of the Somerset Levels. It is to be found five miles south east of Bridgwater.
The name of the village probably comes from the Old English burg (fortification) or beorg ('hill'), with brycg ('bridge').[1]
History
In the village is Burrow Mump, an ancient manmade hill, now owned by the National Trust, presented by Major A.C. Barrett in 1946 as a war memorial.
Burrow Mump is also known as St Michael's Borough or Tutteyate.[2] Artificial as it is, there is at its heart a natural rise of Triassic sandstone, which has been built up and capped by clay. Excavations showed evidence of a 12th-century masonry building on the top of the hill. The first recorded writing mentioning this site is from William of Worcestre about 1480 when he referred to it as Myghell-borough.
A mediæval church dedicated to St Michael from at least the mid 15th century formed a sanctuary for royalist troops in 1645. The ruins visible today are from the 18th century.[3]
The historic area of the Isle of Athelney is located towards the western part of the village.
Prior to 1826, the bridge over the River Parrett, just below the junction with the River Tone, consisted of three arches, each only a little wider than the barges which used the river. They restricted the flow of water in times of flood, and made navigation difficult. The bridge was highlighted in a report made by William Armstrong in 1824, as a factor which would prevent the River Tone Navigation competing with the new Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, then being built.[4] An Act of Parliament was obtained in 1824 by the Turnpike Commissioners, authorising the construction of a new bridge and the removal of the old. A design for a 70-foot single span bridge in cast iron was dropped because of the cost of cast iron at the time, and instead a stone bridge was built and completed in 1826.[4][5] It is the longest single span masonry road bridge in the county, and was the last toll bridge in Somerset, before being 'freed' in 1946.[6] Just below the bridge there was a shoal of rocks and stones, which was also mentioned in Armstrong's report, but no action was taken to remove it. Except on spring tides, Burrowbridge was the normal upper limit for barges riding the incoming tide. Above here, horses were used to pull the boats, either towards Langport or along the River Tone towards Taunton.[4]
There are four active pumping stations within the parish: all are now electric, with diesel backup. One more is redundant: the Aller Moor station near the bridge is now incorporated into a private house. The original mid 19th century machinery is listed and preserved in situ. A few miles west is the preserved very early Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum, which is in steam on regular occasions.[6]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Burrowbridge) |
References
- ↑ Robinson, Stephen (1992). Somerset Place Names. Wimborne, Dorset: The Dovecote Press Ltd. ISBN 1-874336-03-2.
- ↑ "Burrow Mump". The Gatehouse. http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/English%20sites/3244.html. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- ↑ Adkins, Lesley and Roy (1992). A Field Guide to Somerset Archaeology. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. ISBN 0-946159-94-7.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Tony Haskell, (1994), By Waterway to Taunton, Somerset Books, ISBN 0-86183-260-4
- ↑ Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. ISBN 1-874336-27-X.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Leete-Hodge, Lornie (1985). Curiosities of Somerset. Bodmin: Bossiney Books. p. 82. ISBN 0-906456-98-3.
