Penel Orlieu
The name Penel Orlieu is a corrupted combination of two medieval street
names in the vicinity of the West Gate.
Orlove Street (variously Ordlovestrete, Oreloue, Ordlof, Ordloue, Orloues,
Horlokestrete Horlokkestrete) is probably derived from the family of Ordlof
(Bridgwater document of 1260) or Orloc. The street ran parallel to High
Street from the Castle Ditch to Pig Cross, and its remnants are now called
Clare Street.
The first documentary reference is dated 9 December 1321: "Conveyance of
two-ninths of a burgage in Horlokesstrete by Nicholas Prymmensone to John
Parewastel and Iseult, his sister".
The document is preserved in the Somerset County Record Office. It is of
particular interest, as Iseult Parewastel made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
some time after 1321. There, she was captured and tortured on the rack by
the Saracen. She escaped, and returned to Bridgwater by 1368.
Penel Street (Pynelysstret, Pynelestret, Pynellesstret) was very small
street at the west end of Orloue Street. It may have been synonymous with
Cronile's Lane.
In a bond dated 24 March 1352, John Pynel leases a tenement with two
curtilages in Pynel's Street (Pynelysstret) to John le Eyr, a baker or
miller (pistori) and Isolda, his wife.
Source: Bridgwater Borough Archives 1200-1377, ed T B Dilks, Somerset Record
Society, vol 48 1933
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Web page updated 23 September 2010