Burrowbridge

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.070552
longitude= -2.919230
official_name= Burrowbridge
population = 526.Somerset County Council, [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/statistics/contents/population/estimates/2002mye/ 2002 population estimates] .]
shire_district= Taunton Deane
shire_county = Somerset
region= South West England
Ambulance= South Western
constituency_westminster= Taunton
post_town= TAUNTON|postcode_district = TA1, TA2, TA3, TA4
postcode_area= TA
dial_code= 01823
os_grid_reference= ST356303

Burrowbridge is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Parrett and A361 road 5 miles (8 km) south east of Bridgwater in the Taunton Deane district on the edge of the Somerset Levels. The village has a population of 526.

The name probably comes from the Old English "buruh" (fortified hill) and brycg (bridge). [cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset Place Names |year=1992 |publisher=The Dovecote Press Ltd |location=Wimbourne |isbn=1874336032]

In the village is Burrow Mump, an ancient earthwork now owned by the National Trust, presented by Major A.C. Barrett in 1946 as a war memorial. Burrow Mump is also known as St Michael's Borough or Tutteyate. It is a natural hill of Triassic sandstone capped by Keuper 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 in about 1480 when he referred to it as Myghell-borough. A medieval church dedicated to St Michael from at least the mid 15th century and formed a sanctuary for royalist troops in 1645. The ruins visible today are from the 18th century. [cite book |last=Adkins |first=Lesley and Roy |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A field Guide to Somerset Archeology |year=1992 |publisher=Dovecote press |location=Stanbridge |isbn=0946159947 ]

The historic area of The Isle of Athelney is located towards the western part of the village.

The bridge over the River Parrett, near the point at which it is joined by the River Tone, was built in 1826,cite book |last=Bush |first=Robin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Somerset: The complete guide |year=1994 |publisher=Dovecote press |location=Wimbourne |isbn=187433627X ] [cite web | title=Burrow Bridge| work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=271175 | accessdate=2007-09-22] and became the last toll bridge in Somerset, before being 'freed' in 1946.cite book |title=Curiosities of Somerset |last=Leete-Hodge |first=Lornie |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1985 |publisher=Bossiney Books |location=Bodmin |isbn=0906456983 |pages=82 ]

The old pumping station is now a museum.

People associated with Burrowbridge

*Alfred the Great

References

External links

Images of England website - photos of Burrow Mump and other listed buildings in and around Burrowbridge [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=271178] , [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=271175] , [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=271170] , [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=271177] , [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=271172] , [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=271180] , [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=271179] .