Highbridge

HIGHBRIDGE, a hamlet, partly in the parish of Burnham, union of Axbridge, hundred of Bempstone, E. division, and partly in the parish of Huntspill, union of Bridgwater, hundred of Huntspill and Puriton, W. division, of Somerset, 7 miles (N. by E.) from Bridgwater. This place is about a mile east from the shore of Bridgwater bay, and is situated on both sides of the river Brue, which is here crossed by a bridge. It has latterly become one of the largest inland coal-ports between Bristol and Taunton; spacious wharfs for coal and other heavy goods have been formed, and bricks for building are sent in considerable quantities to Cardiff, Newport, and Lidney. The Bristol and Exeter railway has here its largest station for merchandise between Bristol and Bridgwater. A market is held on the first Monday in every month for sheep, cattle, and pigs: the chief produce of the neighbourhood is cheese; and upwards of 1000 tons of this article are now shipped weekly from the port to China alone.