North West Somerset

Somerset Towns and Villages

Highbridge

Description

The ‘bridge’ in the name of this town gives a clue to its influence in the days when transport by water and rail was more common than today when the motorway takes most of the traffic. Highbridge, as a market town, grew up around the bridge over the Brue and served numerous communities including those on the nearby peat moors.

Highbridge

One of the markets’ best sellers was Caerphilly cheese which in fact originated from farms in this area and gained its name because so much of it went across to Wales where it was popular with the miners as a cheap, salty source of nourishment. In Highbridge it was made at the West of England Creamery. There was also a large bacon curing business in the town established in the late 19th century.


With its position, in former times, on the main route from Bristol to the South West, Highbridge once had its own wharf, canal and railway line. The canal linked the town with Glastonbury but was bought by its rival Somerset Central Railway Company and ceased being used. On the new railway’s board were two brothers – James and Cyrus Clark – who founded the famous Somerset shoe company.


Today Highbridge is a known as the birthplace of Frank Foley who saved thousands of Jews during the last war. A statue of him is on the town green. Highbridge has a 42-acre leisure and nature park, Apex Park with lakes, walks and picnic areas. 


Contact

Highbridge
United Kingdom



[Error loading the control 'MemberECommerceCarousel', check event log for more details]

Newsletter

Become a Member



Read more

Book a Conference



Read more

Visitor Information



Read more
Open Map
Close Map