Bridgwater, par., mun. bor., and seaport, AY.
Somerset, on river Parret, 12 miles from the Bristol
Channel, 284 SAY. of Bristol, and 152 SAY. of London
by rail—par., 3539 ac., pop. 12,704; bor., 705 ac., pop.
12,007 ; 3 Banks, 2 newspapers. Market-day, Wednes-
day. B. is built on both sides of the river, which is navi-
gable to the town for vessels of 700 tons, but is subject
to a bore or tidal wave. The imports are—coal, grain,
hemp, tallow, timber, wine, &c.; exports—earthenware,
bath-bricks, cement, and plaster of Paris, which con-
stitute the staple trade of the town. (For shipping
statistics, see Appendix.) B. was originally called
Brugge or Burgh AYalter, from the Norman baron to
whom the manor was given at the Conquest. The
castle, built in the reign of Henry II., was almost
completely demolished during the Civil AYar. Admiral
Blake (1599-1657) was a native.

Bridgwater Division, pari. div. of Somerset, pop.
49,772.

Bridgwater Canal, canal, in Lancashire and Che-
shire, from Manchester to Runcorn on the Mersey, and
thence to Leigh; its length is 38 miles (including a
branch 11 miles long). It was constructed (1761-1765)
in great part at the expense of the Duke of Bridgwater.

Bridlington, market town and par., East-Riding
Yorksh., 29 m. N. of Hull, 50 E. by N. of York, and 199
NAY. of London by rail—par., 12,562ac. and 569foreshore,
pop. 9177; town 2624 ac., pop. 8343 ; 4 Banks, 2 news-
papers. Market-day, Saturday; has remains of priory
(1106), part of which is still used as the parish church.
B. Quay is the port of Bridlington, and a favourite
sea-coast resort, its attractions consisting in its parade
and ornamental gardens, its fine firm sands, chalk
cliffs, magnificent sea-views, and mineral waters, which
resemble those of Scarborough and Cheltenham. The
harb. is enclosed by 2 stone piers, and is one of the
best on the coast. On the N. pier-head is a lighthouse
with fixed light seen 8 miles. In Bridlington Bay,
stretching N. to Flamborough Head, a fleet of 400 to
500 sail of wind-bound vessels is not unfrequently to be
seen anchored at one time.

Bridport, seaport town, mun. bor., and par., AY.
Dorset, 18 miles AY. of Dorchester and 155 miles SAY.
of London by rail—town and mun. bor., 654 ac., pop.
6795; par., 62 ac., pop. 3936 ; 2 Banks, 2 newspapers.
Market-days, Wednesday and Saturday; has mfrs. of
cordage, twine, fishing-nets, and sailcloth. The town
is situated between the rivers Bride or Brit and Asker,
which join about 14 mile below the town, and form a
safe and commodious harbour for vessels of about 250
tons. B. is now a sub-port of AYeymouth. The bor.
returned 1 member to Parliament until 1885.

Bridstow, par. with ry. sta., SE. Herefordshire, on
river AYye, 1 mile NAY. of Ross, 2199 ac., pop. 685.

Brierbush, hamlet, in Penpont par., Dumfriesshire.

Briercliffe witli Extwistlc, township, AYhalley
par., NE. Lancashire, 3 miles NE. of Burnley, 4227
ac., pop. 1147.

Brierfield, local government district and ry. sta.,
AYhalley par., NE. Lancashire, 2£ miles NE. oi
Burnley, 1017 ac., pop. 4088 ; P.O., T.O.

Brierhill, school, Oranmore par., co. Galway.

Bricrley, vil., Sedgley par., E. Staffordshire, 3 miles
NE. of Dudley.

Brierly, township, Felkirk par., S. div. AYest-Riding
Yorksh., 54 m. NE. of Barnsley, 2590 ac., pop. 484; P.O.

Brierly Hill, town with ry. sta., Kingswinford par.,
AV. Staffordshire, on river Stour, 24 miles NE. of Stour-
bridge, pop. 11,603; P.O., T.O., IBank, 1 newspaper;
has brickworks, potteries, glass-works, and collieries.

Briers, vil., in par. and 3 miles SE. of Halifax,
AYest-Riding Yorkshire.

Briersfield, place with school, Abbey par., Galway.

Brierton, township, Stranton par., S. Durham, 34
miles SAY. of Hartlepool, 762 ac., pop. 37.

Briery Cottages, township, Crosthwaite par., AY.
Cumberland, near Keswick, 46 ac., pop. 92.

Brieryliurst, township, AYolstanton par., N. Staf-
fordshire, 2 miles NE. of Newcastle-under-Lyme^

Brigg (or North Lindsey) Division, pari. div. of
Lincolnshire, pop. 48,809.

Brigg, market town with ry. sta., mostly in Sea why
and AVrawby pars., in co. and 24 miles N. of Lincoln,

Gazetteer of the British Isles, Statistical and Topographical, by John Bartholomew, F.R.G.S.

Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black, 1887. Public domain image from Gedcomindex.com