The town of Burnham-on-Sea is, like many cities that find themselves within the county of Somerset, a town with water as a large part of its appeal. Burnham-on-Sea in particular is blessed with two bodies of water in which to be thankful for: The beautiful River Parrett and the irreplaceable Bridgwater Bay. Both of these waters have had a large hand in helping Burnham-on-Sea attract countless outsiders each year to marvel at its wondrous features. The Burnham-on-Sea of today is a popular seaside resort town but many people are not fully aware of just how long this stately burg has been around. Though it gained prominence during these last couple centuries, Burnham-on-Sea is in fact far older than that.
The origins of Burnham-on-Sea actually date all the way back to the days of the Roman Empire. Many cities in England have roots that stretch to the Roman Empire but most of these locations were simply bare settlements that weren't really Roman in any sense of the word. Rather, most of these towns grew up later after being part of the Domesday Book and often after decades or centuries of containing little more than an Abbey or parish church. Burnham-on-Sea was an important town to the dying remnants of Rome at the time and many Romans settled just beneath the River Parrett in order to go to work maintaining the shipping, trade, and travel along the river. There was even Roman irrigation still working when Rome finally died out but it was lost and forgotten about as random smatterings of Anglo-Saxon tribes vied for dominance in the now lawless land. When the Norman Empire finally took control of a large swath of the continent Burnham-on-Sea once again entered the public conversation and it was restored to its former glory and then some. Throughout history Burnham-on-Sea would serve as an important location because of its location right alongside the water. Shipping and transport became a wonder on this prime location and any empire that owned the town would be guaranteed a steady flow of money thanks to the steady flow of water.
What is interesting to note about Burnham-on-Sea's waters, though, is that they are actually fairly unsuitable for traffic. The town is well known for having mudflats and other dangerous obstacles strewn among its beaches and many individuals and ships have been harmed and even died in some instances. The area where the Bristol Channel meets the River Parrett is also a sometimes daunting convergence. It boasts a tidal range of fifteen meters and is the second highest tidal range in the entire world. Burnham-on-Sea is well known for the many shipwrecks that have occurred just outside its waters and, thanks to the aforementioned Bristol Channel, Burnham-on-Sea has also been subject to disastrous floods several times throughout its existence. Luckily, a suitable flood wall has been working since 1988 and a deadly flood has yet to strike Burnham-on-Sea since that date. The story of Burnham is the story of allegiance and few areas in the world can claim to have been as important to their respective leaders as the shining jewel of the ocean: Burnham-on-Sea
| 
+44 (0)1278 782318
