Bridgwater - Corn Exchange

Bridgwater is a historic market town with a population of about 41.000

Bridgwater is mentioned both in the Domesday Book and in the earlier Anglo-Saxon Chronicle dating from around 800. William Briwere was granted the lordship of the Manor of Bridgwater by King John in 1201 and founded Bridgwater Friary. Through Briwere's influence, King John granted three charters: for the construction of Bridgwater Castle, for the creation of a borough, and for a market.

In the English Civil War town and castle were held by the Royalists under Colonel Wyndham. British history might have been different had his wife, Lady Wyndham, been a little more accurate with a musket shot that missed Oliver Cromwell but killed his aide de camp. Eventually, with many buildings destroyed in the town, the castle and its valuable contents were surrendered to the Parliamentarians in 1645.

In the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion, the rebel Duke of Monmouth was proclaimed King on the Cornhill in Bridgwater and in other local towns. He eventually led his troops on a night-time attack on the King's position near Westonzoyland. Surprise was lost when a musket was accidentally discharged, and the Battle of Sedgemoor resulted in defeat for the Duke. He was later beheaded at the Tower of London, and nine locals were executed for treason.

As early as the 14th century, Cornhill was a place selling agricultural produce. In the late 18th century, local merchants decided to commission a purpose-built "corn market". Completed in 1791, it was partially demolished in 1825 and remodeled in the neoclassical style. The central bay features a distinctive round portico consisting of a colonnade of Ionic columns supporting an entablature, cornice and parapet.

In the foreground is the statue of Admiral Robert Blake, born in Bridgwater in 1598 and often referred to as the 'Father of the Royal Navy'.