History of the River Parrett

Navigated since medieval times, the River Parrett was improved for trading boats by a series of 18th century Acts of Parliament. In the 19th century, it became the maritime outlet for Somerset's extensive waterway network: waterways like the River Tone, the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, Grand Western Canal, and Chard Canal were all accessible from the river, so that coastal cargoes could be transhipped onto inland boats and distributed throughout the county.

Trade on all these waterways was badly affected by the coming of the railways. Though there were few navigation works on the Parrett, the few locks that existed were permitted to fall into disrepair. A right of navigation still exists from the sea upstream to Oath Flood Lock, but it is rarely exercised: and the connection with the revivified Bridgwater & Taunton Canal at Bridgwater Docks has been stopped up to prevent silt from the river getting into the docks. There are hopes that this might once again be opened, allowing sea-going boats to moor up in the docks.