Mentions of Bridgwater Castle from Dilks, T.B., Bridgwater Borough Archives, 1200-1377 (Somerset Record Society, 1933)
No. 43 (64) 6th June 1298
Let those present and in the future know that we, Maud Mortimer, according to full authority of our widowhood, gave, granted, remitted and with this our present charter confirmed William, known as The Large, burgess of Bridgwater, one burgage and all attached, which is in Bridgwater, that Burgage which Philip Woderone sometime held, and placed between our castle on the north part and the tenement of William Fairchild on the south part. To have and to hold said Burgage with all attached from us and our heirs, that William and his heirs or assigned be free. In return, three silver coins are to be paid at the feast of St. Michael… …(signed) Kingsland, Herefordshire…
It is difficult to work out exactly where this property was situated as there are no modern corresponding north to south directed streets which have the suspected location of the castle to the north, without anything in the way, such as Fore Street. The most likely location is therefore on the Cornhill, with the mentioned part of the castle to the north being some sort of outwork perhaps comparable to those in the market place of Wells, which has gates to the Bishop’s Palace and another to the Cathedral. Otherwise, if Fore Street has been omitted for some reason from the document, then the property might have been located at the top of modern George Street, King Street or Binford place.
No. 226 (900) 6th August 1366
John Popham to Robert Plympton, Alice his wife and Thomas, their son… messuage, cartilage and all other parts… in the High Street of Bridgwater between the bridge of the Castle on the east part and the house of Robert Heygrove… from the west part…
The property mentioned here can be located to roughly where Royal Clarence House and York Buildings stand today. Note how it mentions the bridge of the castle and makes no allusion to any outwork as possibly implied in No.43.
No. 48 (542) 3rd August 1299
Let those present and those in the future know that I Thomas of Longbrook, the son of William of Longbrook, gave to William the Large of Bridgwater one half burgage in the town of Bridgwater, as the road towards to the North Gate which lies from the west part of the ditch of the castle of Bridgwater, which certain half burgage descended to me in inheritance through the death of Margery former daughter of my mother Jordan the Large…
The same property is mentioned again:
No.50 (356) Undated
Let those present and those in the future know that I William the Large of Bridgwater gave John of Petherton one half burgage in the town of Bridgwater towards the North Gate which lies from the west part of the castle of the said town…
No.77 (698) 5th April 1317
Thomas of Longbrook… (give to) John of Petherton the son of John of Petherton of Bridgwater… one half burgage with all parts in the town of Bridgwater which is situated from the west part of the ditch of the castle of the said town towards the Northgate…
Presumably the property mentioned in this document is a different, but nearby, one to that mentioned in 48 and 50. This seems to be confirmed in the following:
No. 235 (1148) 2nd July 1367
John Petherton to Robert Plympton… and three messuages lying on that street near the ditch of the castle from the west part…
No.283 (26) Debts outstanding to the Parish Church in the year 1373
The Ditch of the Castle:
Margery Saddler Executor of the will of Simon Saddler 2s 2d
Thomas Botman 2s 2d
William Russel 4s 4d
Ibot Golie executor of the will of John Golie 4s 4d
Total 13 shillings
It is uncertain at this point whether this part of town, referred to as Castle Ditch, is the same as the properties near the Castle Ditch mentioned in the documents above, or along the north side of what is now Fore Street built on the Castle Ditch which the name later came to mean.
Mentions of Bridgwater Castle are further traced in the documentary evidence here. Wider discussion of the Borough Archives here.