| Burrowbridge | |
|---|---|
 The bridge over theRiver Parrett | |
  Burrowbridge Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | 508 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST3530 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRIDGWATER |
| Postcode district | TA7 |
| Dialling code | 01823 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°04′16″N2°55′08″W / 51.071°N 2.919°W /51.071; -2.919 | |
Burrowbridge is a village andcivil parish inSomerset, England, situated on theRiver Parrett and theA361 road on the edge of theSomerset Levels. It is located 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast ofBridgwater, and has apopulation of 508.[1]
The name probably comes from theOld Englishburuh (fortified hill) andbrycg (bridge).[2]
In the village isBurrow Mump, an ancient earthwork now owned by theNational Trust, presented by Major A.C. Barrett in 1946 as awar memorial. Burrow Mump is also known as St Michael's Borough or Tutteyate. It is a natural hill ofTriassicsandstone capped byKeuper marl. Excavations showed evidence of a 12th-century masonry building on the top of the hill. The first recorded writing mentioning this site is from William of Worcestre about 1480, when he referred to it as Myghell-borough. A medieval church dedicated to St Michael from at least the mid-15th century formed a sanctuary for royalist troops in 1645. The ruins visible today are from the 18th century.[3]
The historic area of the Isle ofAthelney is located towards the western part of the village.
Prior to 1826, the bridge over the River Parrett, just below the junction with theRiver Tone, consisted of three arches, each only a little wider than the barges that used the river. They restricted the flow of water in times of flood and made navigation difficult. The bridge was highlighted in a report made by William Armstrong in 1824, as a factor that would prevent the River Tone Navigation from competing with the newBridgwater and Taunton Canal, then being built.[4] AnAct of Parliament was obtained in 1824 by the Turnpike Commissioners, authorising the construction of a new bridge and the removal of the old. A design for a 70-foot (21 m) single-span bridge in cast iron was dropped because of the cost of cast iron at the time, and instead a stone bridge was built and completed in 1826.[4][5] It is the longest single-span masonry road bridge in the county, and was the lasttoll bridge in Somerset before being 'freed' in 1946.[6][7] Just below the bridge there was a shoal of rocks and stones, which was also mentioned in Armstrong's report, but no action was taken to remove it. Except on spring tides, Burrowbridge was the normal upper limit for barges riding the incoming tide. Above here, horses were used to pull the boats, either towardsLangport or along the River Tone towardsTaunton.[4]
There are four active pumping stations within the parish, all of which are now electric with diesel backup. One more is redundant: the Aller Moor station near the bridge is now incorporated into a private house. The original mid-19th century machinery is listed and preserved in situ. A few miles west is the preserved very earlyWestonzoyland Pumping Station Museum, which is in steam on regular occasions.[6]
Theparish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers andneighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.
Forlocal government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the village comes under theunitary authority ofSomerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of thenon-metropolitan district ofSomerset West and Taunton (formed on 1 April 2019) and, before this, the district ofTaunton Deane (established under theLocal Government Act 1972). From 1894-1974, for local government purposes, Burrowbridge was part ofTaunton Rural District.[8]
The civil parish was created in the 1980s as the result of a Local Government Boundary Commission review. Originally, what is now the civil parish area was split between five separate parishes:Stoke St Gregory inTaunton Deane, andNorth Petherton,Westonzoyland,Middlezoy andOthery, all inSedgemoor district.[9] The parish council was first elected in 1985.[10]
It is also part of theTaunton and Wellingtoncounty constituency represented in theHouse of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom. It elects oneMember of Parliament (MP) by thefirst-past-the-post system of electionand was part of theSouth West England constituency of theEuropean Parliament prior toBritain leaving the European Union in January 2020, which elected sixMEPs using thed'Hondt method ofparty-list proportional representation.
Media related toBurrowbridge at Wikimedia Commons
