Although taking its name from the small industrial town and port of Bridgwater, the seat stretches 30 miles along the north west Somerset coast to the Devon border, taking in the Quantock Hills, part of Exmoor, the beautiful cliffs around Porlock, and the more prosaic resort of Minehead.
Bridgwater town itself lies in the valley of the fiercely tidal River Parrett at the foot of the Quantocks, with the Somerset levels and the Mendip Hills stretched out before it.
It was made a borough by royal charter back in 1200 and was granted the right to have a mayor in 1468.
Minehead, between Exmoor and the sea, was once a fishing village, but now caters for a large number of holidaymakers every year.
Of the five seats in Somerset, the Tories only won two in 1997 - Wells and Bridgwater.
Furthermore, Tom King - the MP since 1970 - received a vote share of below 37%, with the Lib Dems in second place, and Labour coming a very respectable third on almost 25%, their support base principally being Bridgwater town.