The Overseas Trade of Mid-Sixteenth Century Bridgwater.

This thesis is based on a quantitive analysis of three particular customs accounts for the port of Bridgwater during the mid 16th Century. Bridgwater has received little attention from economic historians concerned with this period. Chapter One reviews the work that has been undertaken and outlines the method employed in this thesis. Chapters Two to Four describe in depth the types of goods shipped, the origin and destination of these goods and the timing of their shipment. The profile of those engaged in this trade is examined in Chapter Five. Throughout, comparison is made with data available from the Bristol customs accounts for a comparable period. This is the first detailed survey of Bridgwater’s overseas trade and the findings have some implications for the study of Anglo-Irish trade in this period. The concluding chapter addresses these points and considers the possibilities for further research