Highbridge, Somerset facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Highbridge |
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 St John's parish church |
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 Highbridge
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| Population | 5,986 (Census 2001) |
| OS grid reference | ST3247 |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Highbridge |
| Postcode district | TA9 |
| Dialling code | 01278 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Highbridge is a town located in Somerset, England. It sits on the edge of the Somerset Levels near where the River Brue meets the sea. Highbridge is about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Taunton, which is the main town of Somerset. It's also about 7 miles (11 km) north of Bridgwater.
Highbridge is very close to Burnham-on-Sea. They are so close that they share a single local council called the Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge town council. In 2001, Highbridge had a population of 5,986 people. By 2011, the population for the Highbridge and Burnham Marine area grew to 7,555.
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Highbridge's Past: A Journey Through Time
There is proof that people lived in the Highbridge area as far back as the Roman times. A bridge has crossed the River Brue here since the 1300s. This bridge was always an important crossing point for travelers going from Bristol to the South West. The town got its name from this important bridge.
Highbridge became an important market and industrial town in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many people worked at the livestock and cheese market. There was also the Highbridge Wharf, where ships loaded and unloaded goods. The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway railway works was another big employer. However, it closed in 1930, meaning 400 people lost their jobs.
After World War II, heavy industries and transport in Highbridge slowed down. The wharf became too small for newer, larger ships. The last timber cargo arrived in 1948, and the wharf closed to shipping the next year. Also, businesses started moving their goods by road instead of by train. Since the 1970s, Highbridge has grown because it is close to the M5 motorway. This has led to more light industries and people who live in Highbridge but travel to work elsewhere.
Highbridge was once a small village within the larger area of Burnham. Over time, it became its own separate area. In 1933, Highbridge joined with Burnham-on-Sea to form one larger area. Today, they share a single town council. Some people in Highbridge still feel strongly that the towns should be separate.
In 2004, a local group called the Highbridge History Project celebrated a big anniversary. They marked 150 years since the town's railway station opened. They also published their own study about the town's history.
How Highbridge is Governed
Highbridge is part of the Sedgemoor area. This area is managed by a local council. There is a special voting area called Highbridge and Burnham Marine.
People in Highbridge vote for their local representatives. These representatives help make decisions for the town. Highbridge is also part of the Bridgwater area. This area chooses one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the House of Commons in London.
Getting Around: Transport in Highbridge
Highbridge was once the end point of the Glastonbury Canal and the Somerset Central Railway. The canal was built first to help drain the River Brue area. It also created a way for goods to travel between Glastonbury and the sea. A new, straight channel was dug in 1801. The original river path became the site of Highbridge Wharf. The canal opened in 1833.
In 1844, the Bristol & Exeter Railway opened Highbridge station. Ten years later, railway companies bought the old canal route. They built a railway line along it. Soon after, smaller lines were added to Burnham-on-Sea and to the Wharf. These lines crossed the main road (the A38) at a busy level crossing. This crossing often caused long traffic jams in the summer.
Today, the old crossing and its signal box are gone. At its busiest, Highbridge Station had five platforms. It also had a place where train carriages were repaired. However, the railway network in Britain changed a lot. Now, Highbridge station only has two platforms and no staff. Its official name is now Highbridge & Burnham.
The original Highbridge station building was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It was taken down in the 1980s. The old Station Master's house was also demolished. Now, many houses stand where the railway lines used to be.
Highbridge's Location and Weather
Highbridge town center is located around the meeting point of Church Street and Market Street. A roundabout marks where the town's first three-faced clock used to be. A newer clock, also with three faces, was replaced in 2012 with a more traditional four-faced clock.
In recent years, many small shops and banks in the town center have closed. NatWest was the last bank, closing in 2014. New houses have been built in the old wharf area, stretching along the river.
Highbridge's Climate
Highbridge has a mild and often wet climate, like the rest of South West England. The average yearly temperature is about 10°C (50°F). Temperatures do not change as much as in other parts of the UK because of the nearby sea. July and August are the warmest months, with average high temperatures around 21°C (70°F). In winter, the lowest temperatures are usually 1°C (34°F) or 2°C (36°F).
The area gets about 700 mm (28 in) of rain each year. Most of the rain in autumn and winter comes from storms over the Atlantic Ocean. In summer, rain often comes from showers and thunderstorms caused by the sun heating the ground. Snowfall is typical for about 8 to 15 days a year. Winds are strongest from November to March and lightest from June to August. The wind usually blows from the south-west.
Highbridge's Economy
Many small family shops and businesses in Highbridge have closed. Now, much of the work is in transport and light industry. These businesses are often on the edge of town, taking advantage of being close to the M5 motorway. Examples include food storage for Yeo Valley Organic and road haulage for RT Keedwell. Other local employers, like furniture makers and food logistics companies, have also closed recently. In 2017, plans were approved to build an Aldi supermarket and a Travelodge hotel.
The town had a livestock market from 1851 until 2007. It met every Monday. The market closed briefly during the 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis. In 2007, it moved to a new site near Bridgwater. The old market site is now being redeveloped with new houses. The Highbridge Hotel, which was next to the market, was badly damaged in a fire in 2008. Parts of the hotel were very old. After a lot of local discussion, a plan was approved in 2013 to build houses on the old cattle market area. The hotel building was meant to be saved for future use, but it has since been demolished.
In 2010, the American computer company IBM announced it would create jobs in Highbridge. This was part of a program to bring new businesses to Somerset.
Important Places in Highbridge
The Community Hall opened in 1994. It stands where the old Town Hall and Railway Hotel used to be. It has a large room for events, meeting rooms, and a small public library run by volunteers.
Highbridge used to have many pubs and inns. Many of these depended on trade from the wharf and the livestock market. Now, only a few pubs remain. The Cooper's Arms was once known as one of the best pubs in the area. The town also has The Bristol Bridge Inn and a busy social club. The decline in pubs has also affected local skittles leagues, as there are fewer places to play this popular game.
News and Media
Local news and TV programs for Highbridge come from BBC West and ITV West Country. Radio stations include BBC Radio Somerset, Heart West, and Greatest Hits Radio South West. The town is also served by local newspapers like the Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News and the Somerset County Gazette.
Learning in Highbridge
Highbridge has Churchfield Church School, which is a primary school. The local high school is The King Alfred School, Highbridge. It is located in Highbridge, close to Burnham-on-Sea, and serves students from both towns. It opened in 1957 and is now a specialist Sports College. Most students who continue their education after high school go to Bridgwater College.
Places of Worship
Highbridge has the Church of England parish church of St John the Evangelist. It also has Hope Baptist Church. Both are located on Church Street.
Mary Ann Ruscombe Poole donated money to build St John's church. She laid the first stone in 1856, and the church opened in 1859.
Famous People from Highbridge
Frank Foley, a famous spy known as the "British Schindler," was born in Highbridge. He helped save thousands of Jewish people during the Second World War. There is a statue honoring him near the Community Hall in the town center.
Edward Higgins, who was the General of the Salvation Army in the early 1930s, was also born in Highbridge. A housing development for elderly people near the town center is named after him.
