This paper, primarily by William Henry Black, also includes Notes by George Parker on the history of the town.
WILLIAM HENRY BLACK (1808–1872), antiquary, was a reader at the British Museum. He was a prolific writer, especially on antiquarian subjects. He prepared an edition of the British part of the Itinerary of Antoninus (never issued), and contributed to Samuel Bentley’s Excerpta Historica. He catalogued the manuscripts of the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, the Arundel MSS. in the library of the College of Arms, and Colfe’s library at Lewisham.
Extracts from the description:
“The visit of the British Archaeological Association took place on Monday 25 August 1856, in the Grand Jury Room of the Town Hall of Bridgwater, where a small museum, consisting of antiquities belonging to the neighbourhood, had been, by the kind attention of the local committee and Somersetshire Archaeological Society, collected.”
“A large mass of ancient charters, deeds, rolls, books of expenses, etc., having been laid upon the table, Mr. Black rose, and observed that he had spent the morning in an examination of the contents of the strong room belonging to the corporation, which, by the kind permission of the authorities, were now produced by Mr. Carslake, the town clerk”
“After this inspection the members and visitors assembled to an excellent ordinary at the Clarence Hotel, whence they repaired again to the Town Hall, to hold the evening meeting. The thanks of the Association are due to the proprietors of the gas works of the town, who had generously introduced gas into the building for their accommodation ; and it was well lighted up.”
Notes of Mr Parker:
“Within the last century, nearly every shop between the church and the bridge was without glazed windows. Many of the shops within the last halfcentury had outside laps or folding shutters of wood, which were lifted up in the morning and closed at night; one of these was very recently to have been seen in the upper part of St. Mary-street, and a large open drain ran from the top of Weststreet down Mount-street to North Gate, along by the back of the north part of King-square to the river. There were not then above a dozen houses from North Gate, opposite the national school where the old gate stood, to the Brick-yard. The archways of South Gate, West Gate and East Gate, were then standing, and their hinges were apparent. The present gaol is one of the oldest buildings in the town, but it has a new front built to it. Behind and around the present custom house are some remains worthy of notice, particularly in the bonded cellars, and an entrance near Mr. Sealey’s bank, being portions.”