Bridgwater - Somerset: A Town That Knows What It Wants And Gets It Done

(Wed Jul 7th, 2010, by Frederick Hoymer)

Having your birthday be over eight hundred years before gives you the wizened appearance of the aged but Bridgwater - Somerset does not do that. Beginning as a market town it has had a finger on the pulse of the political landscape throughout the years and had no trouble voicing its opinion. You can find many different types of topography here. The waterfront comes from the city being located on either side of the River Parrett. But there are wooded areas and steadfast hills that also frame the area. In the Middle Ages fairs and markets were more than just a place to purchase things you needed but also the place to have fun. Bridgwater has been celebrated for these events ever since then. And now they put the two together for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival. Adding political flair with the ability to throw a really great party this event is known worldwide and the attendees come from all points on the globe. The name of Guy Fawkes is the nod to the politics since he was the mastermind behind the plot to blow up Parliament. And since Bridgwater sided with the Royalists in the Civil War they know the hazards of choosing the side that loses. Either way this event is the toast of the Friday closest to November fifth. With up to two hundred thousand people descending here it is a show and an event that you would not want to miss. With floats, or cars as they are called, up to a hundred feet long decorated with lights, people, and anything else participants can find, it is a festival of epic proportions. Those that are involved are called Features or Masqueraders and they make sure they are there for the big, enormous fireworks show at the end. With the party instinct on high, this town still delivers in the intellectual venue with poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge who lived here for three years with his family. Visit Coleridge Cottage where he produced some of his most famous works like The Nightingale, Kubla Kahn, and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. See about the visits from his friend, William Wordsworth and how their daily walks inspired them both. Or learn about the famous Admiral Robert Blake who was born and lived in Blake House. Make a plan to learn about his invaluable military career and his time spent in Parliament by visiting this home and museum. Industry touched this town by way of cloth making. This was the commerce that brought money to the coffers until the Industrial Revolution changed how and where the cloth was produced. Now manufacturing is the staple for the economy. The flavor of Bridgwater - Somerset is far from stuffy and boring. This town has found that putting their voice to good use and taking their ability to throw a great party has brought a strong dynamic to this area that brings people to visit seeing something new every time.