 |
This is a historic record of Public Houses that the town has seen over the centuries from some of the oldest like the Fountain Inn, White Lion, Rose & Crown & Green Dragon dating back hundreds of years to the more modern which are just a few years old like the Cornhill and Carnival Inn 1672 is the first reference to a pub in the town. The Swanne was described as being on the Cornhill and was the largest Inn in Bridgwater and indeed was one of the most famous in the county at the time.The Swan Inn was the only coaching house up to the time of its demolition just prior to the 1900’s and played a large part in the history of town for 150 years. |
|
The Swanne was demolished in 1884 when building works started. Bridgwater was once said to have had more pubs per square mile than any other town of its size in the country. But over the last few years like any other town it has seen a fast decline in the traditional pub as we know it and since 2010 the town has seen 7 pubs close with 4 being demolished. The records come from a number of sources including books
by David Williams and Jane Mann, old newspaper archives and records that we have
research ourselves over the past 15 or so years. |
 |
The photos also come from various sources, most of the photos in colour are from our own collection taken over the last 20 years, others from the 1950's come from a good friend Maurice Spender who has allowed us to use them and various other archive sources. This is an insight of the past and present and what is now left of the towns original Public Houses |