Bridgewater Blake Museum

The Blake Museum occupies a 16th-century house in the centre of Bridgwater, traditionally identified as the birthplace of Admiral Robert Blake, one of the most successful naval commanders in English history. Blake, born in 1598, served as General at Sea under the Commonwealth and effectively laid the foundations of the modern Royal Navy, and the museum tells his story alongside the wider history of the town and its hinterland on the Somerset Levels.

The galleries are arranged across the rooms of the old house and cover a surprisingly broad sweep of local history. Displays include archaeological finds from the surrounding levels, material on the Battle of Sedgemoor and the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, which was fought just a few miles away, and exhibits on Bridgwater's port, brick and tile industries, and its long tradition of carnival. Domestic interiors, period costume and ship models help to bring the town's maritime and industrial past to life.

The museum is run largely by volunteers and admission is free, making it an easy stop on a visit to Bridgwater along with the nearby St Mary's Church and the quayside on the River Parrett.