Bridgwater, Somerset, United Kingdom.

The previous entry on the fascinating subject of Bridgwater is scanty, to the say the least, and scarcely does justice to this exotic and beautiful settlement.

In French GCSE lessons, Bridgwater schoolchildren are taught to say 'J'habite une petite ville industrielle', and, put that way, things sound a little rosier than The Whale Web Master would have us believe.

It has become fashionable to criticise Bridgwater if one lives in Bridgwater, but to those from outside, this can often sound like boasting, so be careful of your claims. There are people who are unfortunate enough to live literally miles from a cellophane plant, and who have no access to a brown river. Those living in, say, Henley-on-Thames, or sunny Bournemouth, often feel that they have missed out on Bridgwater, and bragging about it doesn't help to sooth relations.

Things to See

Should you find yourself stranded in Bridgwater, with a few hours to kill - perhaps your car has broken down on the way to Minehead, or maybe you are with a travelling theatre group - there are several sites of interest.

1. East Bridgwater Community School (nee, Sydenham) - this attractive 1970's prefab building houses one of the most unfairly criticised schools in the country, and is well worth a visit. Sitting at the centre of the town's 'troubled Sydenham estate', the school has a reputation for violence which it scarcely deserves. Having been there for five years, and not once been the victim of bullying (despite being a swot), the author feels qualified to make such assertions.

2. Blake Gardens - this small park, although somewhat ruined by the recent addition of tramps and needles - offers a glimpse into Edwardian civic life. It even has a bandstand worthy of Sgt Pepper, and is convenient for the library.

3. Bridgwater Town Hall - in the 1960's, several famous bands played here, including The Small Faces, and The Troggs. It is now home to the Bridgwater Carnival Concerts.

4. Unitarian Chapel, Dampiet Street - poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge preached here in the late 1790's, whilst living at nearby Nether Stowey. Those who have read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency will no doubt be interested to see this.

Bridgwater Carnival

Having mentioned Bridgwater Carnival, it only seems fitting that there should be a little more said of this unusual phenomenon. Occuring on the nearest Thursday to the 5th of November, the annual Guy Fawkes carnival is a cheery and exciting celebration of the persecution of Catholics. It is the very centre of the town's social life, and most young people are members of 'carnival clubs'. These are often affiliated with local pubs - such as The Lime Kiln - and take part in a variety of fund-raising activities, of which the concerts mentioned above are just one example.

The carnival itself is a procession of over one hundred lorries, decorated with light-bulbs. There are two types of cart: the tableaux, and the less static dancing carts. The spectacle of the carnival should not be underestimated, and a great deal of effort goes into the creation of the carts, not to mention the effort involved in standing still for three hours. After the carnival procession, it is a tradition to let off fireworks, and 'squibs' (a kind of blazing torch) on West Street, near The Squib pub.

Other Information

Bridgwater has no shortage of pubs, or chip shops. Try the Admiral's Landing for a welcoming atmosphere, and little chance of a fight.

Further Reading

Books about Bridgwater are few and far between, and Kim Newman's recent Life's Lottery is perhaps your best bet. It is a choose-your-own-adventure style novel about a town called Sedgwater (Bridgwater is in the borough of Sedgemoor, and less than three miles from the site of the Battle of Sedgemoor), and is highly evocative of the atmosphere of the town.