Bridgwater’s much-loved History Day returns to the Bridgwater Arts Centre on Saturday 14 November 2026, promising a fascinating day of talks, films and local history, alongside a rare opportunity to view the historic Bridgwater Historical Tapestry.
Doors open at 10.30am, with the event running until 4.00pm. Admission is free and visitors are welcome to drop in and out throughout the day.
Sponsored by Bridgwater Town Council and Bridgwater College, the free event brings together local historians, authors and researchers for a fascinating programme of talks, films and presentations celebrating the people, places and events that have shaped the town’s history.
Mayor of Bridgwater, Councillor Leigh Redman, will open the event at 10.30am before a packed programme of speakers takes to the stage.
This year’s programme includes:
- 10.30am – Larry Bennett, The Bridgwater Beam Wireless Station
- 11.10am – Chris Sidaway, Bridgwater Arts Centre 80th Anniversary
- 11.50am – Tony Woolrich film, Bridgwater Museum’s History
- 12.00pm – Wayne Pope film and talk, The 40th Foot Somersetshire at the Battle of Waterloo
- 12.20pm – Brian Smedley, The Vernon Bartlett Election of 1938
- 1.00pm to 2.00pm – Lunch break. The Bridgwater Historical Tapestry will be on display at St Mary’s Church.
- 2.00pm – Dr Miles Kerr-Peterson film, The Black Death in Bridgwater
- 2.15pm – Irena Hubble, Myths and Legends of Somerset
- 3.00pm – Friends of Wembdon Road Cemetery film, Some Women of Bridgwater
- 3.15pm – Sharif Gemie, The Origins of the Glastonbury Festival
A special feature of this year’s event will be the return of the Bridgwater Historical Tapestry, which will be on display at St Mary’s Church from 10.00am until 3.00pm.
The Bridgwater Historical Tapestry is one of the town’s most remarkable heritage treasures. Designed and created by pupils of Westover Secondary Modern School in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations and later extended in 1969 to mark 500 years of Bridgwater’s mayoralty, the tapestry stretches for more than 33 metres and consists of 51 embroidered panels depicting key moments from the town’s history.
If you missed the opportunity to view this extraordinary piece of Bridgwater’s heritage during Heritage Week, this will be a rare chance to see it. The tapestry has only been displayed publicly a handful of times during its 75-year history.
Admission is free, although donations are always welcome.