Bathpool Bridge

“Two miles below Taunton the road to Bridgwater crosses the Tone at a vilaage called Bathpool.Although the present bridge is relatively modern, the Bathpool Mills certainly existed in the fourteenth century. They were the property of the Abbott of Glastonbury, and were rebuilt, if not originally founded, by Abbot Walter de Monyngton about the year 1634. An Exemplification of December 15th 1384, recited an Inquisition taken at Taunton ( 6 Richard II.), when the jurors presented that ” tyhe said Abbot of Glastonbury maintains in Monkton trees overhanging the Tone right across it so that boats cannot pass as they were wont between the mill of Tobrigge and Bathpool….also that the highway between Taunton and Bathepolebrigge is undermined owing to a new mill he had erected close to Bathpoolmulle.” “.In 1623 a petition was put forward to the Quarter Sessions which stated ” a certain stone bridge called the farther Bathe Pool bridge is now in great decay and very dangerous”. In 1653 the sum of �40 was raised for its repair. The present bridge is built of brick and stone, and was widened in 1927.”¹

Upon a petition from the inhabitants of West Munckton that a certain stone bridge called the farther Bathe Poole Bridge is now in great decay for want of reparations, and very dangerous ; being a great thoroughfare way, the greatest in those parts, and must be repaired speedily ; and for that it is unknown whether it should be repaired by the County or some particular parishes or private persons : Referred to Sir Henry Hawley and John Symes, Thomas Brereton, Robert Cuffe and George Browne, esquires, or to any four of them, to take some speedy course for the levying of monies for the repairing of the said bridge, and to certify at the next Sessions what they have done in and about the said work.²