The name
Called Brigg or sometimes Glanford Brigg, the earliest references to the settlement date from the 12th century. The name Glanford is probably derived from the Old English "gleam" meaning revelry or merriment and "ford" meaning the ford in a river. Together the two could be "the ford where sports are held". Brigg comes from the Old Norse "bryggja" meaning a jetty and was added to the name later refering to the bridge over the river Ancholme.
More detailed information can be found in:
Kenneth Cameron's The Place-Names of Lincolnshire. Part Two. 1991.
(Available in North Lincolnshire Local Studies Library).
The place
Brigg has been a thriving market town for centuries, with a weekly Thursday market possibly dating from 1205. There were also two annual fairs - the Statute Fair in May and the Brigg Horse Fair in August.
The Anchome was a vital link for Brigg providing access to Yorkshire and the port of Hull. Brigg also relied on the surrounding agricultural area to bring in trade and at one time rabbit fur from the many local warrens was one of the main commodities traded. Brigg grew into a prosperous town and has many fine buildings which reflect this heritage including a corn exchange and old coaching inns. In later times Brigg was the administrative centre for Glanford and established several important buildings including the workhouse for the area. Glanford Borough ceased to exist with the creation of North Lincolnshire Council in 1996 but it is still home to many council buildings.
In 1886 as the gas works were being erected an important archaeological find was made - a dug-out boat later identified as being between 2000 and 3000 years old and all made from a single original tree. The boat was later placed in a museum in Hull but unfortunately did not survive an air raid on the city during 1943.
Brigg is also famous for the song Brigg Fair which is known around the world.