Bridgwater Castle, Medieval castle ruins in Bridgwater, England
Bridgwater Castle is a medieval castle in Bridgwater, Somerset, of which only fragments of the original stone walls survive above ground today. The castle once stood close to the River Parrett, and its defences included water channels that connected directly to the river on one side.
William Brewer built the castle in the early 13th century after receiving royal permission to do so, and it quickly became a key point for controlling the town and the river crossing. Over the following centuries it fell into disuse, and much of its stone was taken away and reused in other buildings across Bridgwater.
The castle walls were built partly from red Wembdon sandstone and Ham stone, two materials that came from the local area and give the remaining sections a warm, reddish tone. Visitors who look closely at the stonework in the restaurant wall can still see how these different stones were laid together.
The surviving sections of the walls can be seen at two spots in the town centre: one is set into the wall of a waterfront restaurant and the other is visible from a private car park nearby. It is worth checking access conditions before visiting, as one of the two sites is on private ground.
Beneath the streets of the modern town there are still medieval vaults that were once used as both dungeons and wine stores. These underground spaces are not open to the public but they show how much of the original castle extended below ground level.
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