Bridgwater, Market town in Sedgemoor, England
Bridgwater is a market town in Sedgemoor, in western England, that follows the course of the River Parrett through low fields and meadows. The Mendip range to the north and the Quantock hills to the west frame the settlement, which has grown around the river crossing and the old port area.
The Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685 ended the Monmouth Rebellion against King James II, marking the last open pitched battle fought on English soil. The settlement itself served for centuries as a trading port on the Parrett, before river traffic declined and other routes gained importance.
The town takes its name from a bridge that once crossed the Parrett, and today you can see a mix of red brick and pale stone buildings in the center. Traditional shops stand beside modern stores along the main streets, while market stalls selling regional produce appear regularly in the main square.
Two motorway junctions on the M5 and a railway station on the Bristol-Taunton line connect the town with wider transport networks. Walking routes along the river and through the center are easy to follow, with bridges and quayside walls providing landmarks.
The canal system between here and Taunton uses multiple locks and bridges originally built for cargo transport, now mostly used by leisure boats. Some of these locks still operate by hand, showing mechanisms from the 19th century.
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