Most towns in Britain have a local museum. Bridgwater's is better hidden than most, but there is a good reason for its obscure location. The building was the family home of the Blake family, of whom Robert the admiral was the most famous son. The building dates from around 1500 so the museum is itself an interesting piece of history. One room even has a sketch of a sailing ship scratched into the plaster. This is a great favourite with local schoolboys who like to believe that it is the work of the famous admiral when he was a boy. "But mum, Robert Blake drew on the wall of his house, why can't I?"
Naturally the museum's primary attractions relate to the Monmouth Rebellion and Blake himself. Two of its rooms are devoted to these subjects, and extensive historical information is available. Sadly there is not a lot of material available from earlier in the town's history. Bridgwater once boasted a splendid castle, but it was so badly damaged by Cromwell during the civil war that it was abandoned and cannibalised for stone by local people. Legend also has it that while the castle was besieged the local nobility, the Whyndham family, had the surrounding shops and houses burned down so as not to give any cover to Cromwell's troops. Consequently, little of pre-Civil War Bridgwater remains.
The museum does have a fair amount of material from later in the town's history, in particular focusing on the town's status as a thriving port. The reasons for this commercial success can be found in the section on the Brick & Tile Museum.
Adjacent to the museum is Blake Gardens, the town's largest park. The town library also adjoins the park, and is another potential source of information on local history.
Entry to the museum is free, and the various pamphlets that it sells are reasonably priced. Several books about the history of the town are also available for sale. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays.