The name probably comes from the
Old English buruh (fortified hill) and
brycg (bridge). In the village is
Burrow Mump, an ancient earthwork now owned by the
National Trust, presented by Major A.C. Barrett in 1946 as a
war memorial. Burrow Mump is also known as St Michael's Borough or Tutteyate. It is a natural hill of
Triassic sandstone capped by
Keuper marl. Excavations showed evidence of a 12th-century masonry building on the top of the hill. The first recorded writing mentioning this site is from William of Worcestre about 1480, when he referred to it as Myghell-borough. A medieval church dedicated to St Michael from at least the mid-15th century formed a sanctuary for royalist troops in 1645. The ruins visible today are from the 18th century. The historic area of the Isle of
Athelney is located towards the western part of the village. Prior to 1826, the bridge over the River Parrett, just below the junction with the
River Tone, consisted of three arches, each only a little wider than the barges that used the river. They restricted the flow of water in times of flood and made navigation difficult. The bridge was highlighted in a report made by William Armstrong in 1824, as a factor that would prevent the River Tone Navigation from competing with the new
Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, then being built. It is the longest single-span masonry road bridge in the county, and was the last
toll bridge in Somerset before being 'freed' in 1946. Just below the bridge there was a shoal of rocks and stones, which was also mentioned in Armstrong's report, but no action was taken to remove it. Except on spring tides, Burrowbridge was the normal upper limit for barges riding the incoming tide. Above here, horses were used to pull the boats, either towards
Langport or along the River Tone towards
Taunton. There are four active pumping stations within the parish, all of which are now electric with diesel backup. One more is redundant: the Aller Moor station near the bridge is now incorporated into a private house. The original mid-19th century machinery is listed and preserved in situ. A few miles west is the preserved very early
Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum, which is in steam on regular occasions. ==Governance==