The Water Gate

I didn’t realise, but the name of our favourite local town, Bridgwater, didn’t come from the fact that it was a bridge over water; originally, way back in the mists of time, the town was just called  Brigg, which didn’t mean ‘bridge’ but quay; the ‘water part’ came from the Norman knight, Walter de Douai who was given the area on the Somerset coast around Brigg became Bridge and Walter became water… and so to Bridgwater.

There was a castle here in the town, built after the borough received a charter from King John and stood on the banks of the River Parrett; William Briwerre was the first lord of the castle which stood securely until the English Civil War. Now there is little which remains, a few walls, a few bits of stone… and the water-gate which we only recently discovered. Why we didn’t find it long ago on our visits I have no idea since there is a hotel which gives a massive clue:

You might just be able to make out an ancient arch beneath one of the windows… I don’t know if this was another part of the castle… or if it is  more recent…