An interpretation of Bridgwater's first bridge. The gatehouse is purely hypothetical, it might have acted as an outwork for the castle. © M. Peterson
It is difficult to say with any certainty when the first bridge of Bridgwater was constructed. Opinion is divided on the meaning of the 'Bridg' element of the name Bridgwater. At face value it might be taken as bridge, suggesting that the early settlement grew from a river crossing. However Dunning suggests that the name is likely to derive from either the Norse for quay or the Old English for gangplank. Even if the name does refer to a river crossing, the old English for bridge simply meant a man made improvement to a river crossing, rather than anything more substantial.
It is possible that the first bridge was constructed by William Briwerre, around 1200, who founded Bridgwater as a town and built the large castle. While Briwerre was spending large sums on the castle and employing skilled workers to build it, it would seem likely that he would have a bridge built as well. The bridge would be the last easy crossing point on the River Parrett before the sea and also as far inland as sea traffic could go, meaning all goods would have to be unloaded at Bridgwater. Both road and river traffic could thence be charged for the privilege and Briwerre would have a lucrative earner.
It is likely that no bridge was attempted before Briwerre as there would not have been the money available to build a stone bridge. Harrison's study of Medieval bridges suggests stone was always preferred as a building material for bridges compared to wood, unless the higher capital requirements could not be met. It is unlikely there was ever a timber bridge over the Parrett at Bridgwater simply as the strong currents and tidal bore would make short work of such a structure. It would hence seem possible that Briwerre built a bridge of strong, stone piers and timber roadway.
The sixteenth century antiquarian John Leland reported that locally the bridge was attributed as being started by Briwerre and completed by John Trivet. Trivet gave a large sum of money for construction and was completed in 1400. This would fit with Harrison's study of medieval bridges where it seems often that thirteenth century stone and timber bridges would be completed with stone arches in the fifteenth century.
