Blake Museum

The Blake Museum stands in Bridgwater, Somerset, on a site believed to be the birthplace of Robert Blake, a Parliamentarian General at Sea in the 17th century. The building itself dates from the late 15th or early 16th century and is a grade II* listed structure made of limestone and hamstone with original Tudor fireplaces and ceilings. It sits next to the Bridgwater Town Mill, and plans exist to extend the museum into the mill building. The museum has been run by Bridgwater Town Council since 2009, with support from the Friends of Blake Museum. The museum’s collection covers the history of Bridgwater and its surrounding rural district, stretching from Huntspill in the north to Thurloxton in the south. It includes artefacts linked to Robert Blake’s life, such as his sea chest, as well as items from local conflicts like the Battle of Sedgemoor. The museum also preserves archives of the Bridgwater Mercury from the First World War, agricultural tools, and the Spaxton Mosaic, restored in 2012. A notable recent addition is the digitised archive of the Bridgwater Heritage Group, founded by the late Dr Peter Cattermole. Visitors find a three-storey building with modern display cases and LED lighting, alongside original features like Tudor ceilings and fireplaces. The Battle gallery presents conflicts from King Alfred’s time to the 20th century, and replica weapons from the Battle of Sedgemoor can be handled. The museum garden is maintained by volunteers, and the Friends of Blake Museum publish a quarterly newsletter. Special exhibitions mark anniversaries, such as the 90th birthday in 2016 and the centenary in 2026.