Editing Bridgwater (section)

==Economy==
[[File:BridgwaterWestQuayAndRiverParrett(PatrickMackie)Apr2006.jpg|alt=Three and four-storey buildings on the far side of a river.|thumb|West Quay and the River [[Parrett]]]]
As early as 1300, the port exported wheat, peas and beans to Ireland, France and Spain, and by 1400 was also exporting cloth from Somerset and the adjoining counties. By 1500 it was the largest port in Somerset,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/Maritime/Sources/1565bridgwater.htm |title=Bridgwater Port Survey, 14 May 1565 |access-date=20 January 2008 |work=Department of Historical Studies, University of Bristol |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519092333/http://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/Maritime/Sources/1565bridgwater.htm |archive-date=19 May 2011 }}</ref> later becoming the fifth largest in England,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wow4water.net/media/images/2007116111743.pdf |title=Bridgwater and Taunton Canal Information pack |publisher=wow4water |pages=2 |access-date=4 April 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218132658/http://www.wow4water.net/media/images/2007116111743.pdf |archive-date=18 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghamuk.com/bridgewater.htm|title=The County of Somerset|publisher=Birmingham UK|access-date=4 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campbellroom.org.uk/en/education.html|title=Educational visits and residential field trips|publisher=The Campbell Room|access-date=4 April 2010|archive-date=24 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924201028/http://www.campbellroom.org.uk/en/education.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> until eclipsed by [[Bristol]] in the 18th century.<ref name="bhobridg">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18640 |title=Bridgwater |access-date=20 January 2008 |work=British History Online |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303083620/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18640 |archive-date= 3 March 2010 }}</ref> In its heyday, imports included wine, grain, fish, hemp, coal and timber. Exports included wheat, wool, cloth, cement, bricks and tiles. Unlike Bristol, Bridgwater was never involved in the [[History of slavery|slave trade]] and, in 1785, was the first town in Britain to petition the government to ban it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/articles/2007/02/19/abolition_somerset_and_slavery_feature.shtml |title=Somerset and slavery |access-date=20 January 2008 |work=BBC Somerset |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825062914/http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/articles/2007/02/19/abolition_somerset_and_slavery_feature.shtml |archive-date=25 August 2007 }}</ref>

The Bridgwater ship the ''Emanuel'' was one of three that took part in [[Martin Frobisher]]'s 1577 search for the [[Northwest Passage]]. In 1828, 40 ships were registered in the port, averaging 60&nbsp;tons each.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hudson, Frobisher and the Early Exploration of Canada: Some Heraldic Puzzles|first=John J.|last=Kennedy|publisher=Académie internationale d'héraldique}}
</ref>

===Industry===
Bridgwater was the leading industrial town in Somerset and remains a major centre for manufacturing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bridgwatertowncouncil.gov.uk/home/ |title=Welcome to Bridgwater |publisher=Bridgwater Town Council |access-date=14 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708183427/http://www.bridgwatertowncouncil.gov.uk/home |archive-date=8 July 2008 }}</ref> A major manufacturing centre for clay tiles and bricks in the 19th century, including the famous "[[Bath brick]]", were exported through the port.<ref name="Hawkins 1982">{{cite book |last=Hawkins |first=Desmond |title=Avalon and Sedgemoor |year=1982 |publisher=Alan Sutton Publishing |location=Gloucester |isbn=0-86299-016-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/avalonsedgemoor0000hawk }}</ref> In the 1890s there were a total of 16 brick and tile companies, and 24 million bricks per annum were exported during that decade alone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bathdailyphoto.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/070319bridgwater-just-water-under-the-bridge/ |title=Bridgwater, Just Water Under the Bridge? (Not to Bath Brick Enthusiasts) |access-date=20 January 2008 |work=Bath Daily Photo |date=18 March 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608184751/http://bathdailyphoto.wordpress.com/2007/03/19/070319bridgwater-just-water-under-the-bridge/ |archive-date= 8 June 2008 }}</ref> These industries are celebrated in the [[Somerset Brick and Tile Museum]] on East Quay.<ref>[http://www.culture24.org.uk/am11844 Somerset Brick and Tile Museum, Bridgwater] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705084819/http://www.culture24.org.uk/am11844 |date= 5 July 2009 }} entry on [[Culture24]]. Retrieved 9 December 2009.</ref>

These industries collapsed in the aftermath of [[World War II]] due to the failure to introduce [[Mechanization|mechanisation]], although the automated Chilton Tile Factory, which produced up to 5 million tiles each year, lasted until 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18662 |title=Chilton Trinity: Economic history |work=Victoria County History |publisher=British History Online |access-date=28 March 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104191943/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18662 |archive-date= 4 November 2012 }}</ref> The importance of the Bath Brick declined with the advent of [[detergent]]s and other cleaning products. Dunware ponds used to make bricks and can still be found along the paths.

During the 19th century, [[Castle House, Bridgwater|Castle House]] (originally named Portland Castle after [[Portland cement]]), reputedly the first domestic house in the UK to be built from [[concrete]],<ref name="Somerset County Council">{{cite web|url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/14928 |title=Castle House, Queen Street (South side), Bridgwater |work=Somerset Historic Environment Record |publisher=Somerset County Council |access-date=30 June 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003102500/http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/14928 |archive-date= 3 October 2016 }}</ref> was constructed in 1851 by John Board, a local brick and tile manufacturer. The building is now Grade II* [[listed building|listed]],<ref>{{NHLE |num=1355168 |desc=Castle House |access-date=30 June 2009}}</ref> and in 2004 was featured in the [[BBC]] [[television]] programme ''[[Restoration (television)|Restoration]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/bridgewater-calling-strummers-friends-want-concrete-folly-turned-into-memorial-552323.html |title=Bridgewater calling: Strummer's friends want concrete folly turned into memorial |last=Jury |first=Louise |date=7 July 2004 |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=30 June 2009 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923203054/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/bridgewater-calling-strummers-friends-want-concrete-folly-turned-into-memorial-552323.html |archive-date=23 September 2009 }}</ref>

In the 19th century, Bridgwater was also home to a number of [[iron]] [[foundry|foundries]]. [[George Hennet]]'s Bridgwater Iron Works worked on bridges, railways and machinery for Brunel and [[Robert Stephenson]]. This location allowed the import by boat of raw materials from [[Wales]] and the dispatch of finished work to south Devon using the [[Bristol & Exeter Railway]]. The carriage workshops for the latter were on an adjacent site. The works passed to his son and then traded as Hennet, Spink & Else. Some of the ironwork was produced for the [[Royal Albert Bridge]] at [[Saltash]], [[Cornwall]]. In 1873 it became the Bridgwater Engineering Company Limited but this failed in 1878.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/28022 |title=Nineteenth-century iron works site, Colley Lane, Bridgwater |work=Somerset Historic Environment Record |publisher=Somerset County Council |access-date=14 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003101246/http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/28022 |archive-date= 3 October 2016 }}</ref> W&F Wills Ltd produced [[locomotive|steam locomotives]] and [[traffic sign|fingerposts]].<ref>{{cite web|title=W. and F. Wills |url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/W._and_F._Wills |publisher=Grace's Guide |access-date=5 June 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233040/http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/W._and_F._Wills |archive-date=30 December 2013 }}</ref>

At the start of [[World War II]], the government built a factory to manufacture high explosives at [[Puriton]] near Bridgwater.<ref name=cocroft>Cocroft, Wayne D. (2000). ''Dangerous Energy: The archaeology of gunpowder and military explosives manufacture''. Swindon: English Heritage. {{ISBN|1-85074-718-0}}</ref> Called [[ROF Bridgwater]], the plant is today owned by [[BAE Systems]] and closed after decommissioning was completed in July 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2159743.sad_day_as_firm_sheds_workforce/ |title=Sad day as firm sheds workforce |date=31 March 2008 |publisher=Bridgwater Mercury |access-date=13 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211214058/http://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2159743.sad_day_as_firm_sheds_workforce/ |archive-date=11 February 2009 }}</ref>

[[British Cellophane Ltd]], a joint venture between La Cellophane SA and [[Samuel Courtauld (industrialist)|Courtaulds]] opened a major factory producing [[cellophane]] in Bridgwater 1937. The factory produced [[Bailey bridge]]s during [[World War II]] for the invasion of Europe. Bought by [[Innovia Films|UCB Films]] in 1996, the town suffered a blow in 2005 when [[Innovia Films]] closed the [[British Cellophane Ltd|cellophane]] factory.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/4244487.stm |title=Jobs threatened at plastics plant |publisher=BBC |access-date=14 March 2010 |date=7 February 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202045821/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/4244487.stm |archive-date= 2 December 2008 }}</ref> At one time the factory employed around 3,000 people, although at the time of closure this had been reduced to just 250. However recovery has begun with the establishment of new businesses on the ''Express Park'' business park including the relocation of [[Gerber Juice Company|Gerber Juice]] and new enterprises [[Toolstation]] and [[Interpet]] as well as the [[Exel]] centre for the [[National Health Service|NHS]] Logistics Authority.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.expresspark.co.uk/page/the-park.html |title=The Park |publisher=Express Business Park |access-date=14 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909081935/http://www.expresspark.co.uk/page/the-park.html |archive-date=9 September 2009 }}</ref>

Bridgwater is now a major centre of industry in Somerset, with industries including the production of plastics, engine parts, industrial chemicals, and foods. Bowerings Animal Feed Mill is now the only industry still located at the docks. Being close to the [[M5 motorway]] and halfway between [[Bristol]] and [[Exeter]], Bridgwater is also home to two major distribution centres, while retailer [[Argos (retailer)|Argos]] has a regional distribution centre based at [[Huntworth]]. A new £100&nbsp;m Regional Agricultural Business Centre opened in 2007, following construction which began in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/4553340.stm |title=£50&nbsp;m agricultural centre to open |access-date=20 January 2008 |work=BBC News | date=22 December 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Erection of petrol filling station and associatedinfrastructure at Land to the South West of HuntworthRoundabout and, to the North West of, A38, Bridgwater|url=http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/planning_online/(S(tdhhp4oghus2rx2fselnp2cm))/RamNetRecord.aspx?rec=1861851&ren=415884&desc=Agenda%20Item%205%20-%20Reports|publisher=Sedgemoor District Council|access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>

As of 2021, a {{convert|616|acre}} commercial development campus named Gravity, targeting the [[low-carbon economy]], is planned for the former [[ROF Bridgwater]] site {{convert|3.5|mile}} north of Bridgwater.<ref name=somersetlive-20210607>{{cite news |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/gravity-campus-bridgwater-elon-musk-5497312 |title=Gravity: What new 616-acre smart campus in Somerset will look like when finished |last=Millen |first=Ross |website=SomersetLive |publisher=Reach |date=7 June 2021 |access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=thisisgravity-home>{{cite web |url=https://thisisgravity.co.uk/ |title=Gravity - A Smart Campus |website=This is Gravity |access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref>