Bridport

Bridport is a small market town (pop. 7500) and stands where the rivers Brit and Asker meet - at the westerly end of the great shingle curve of Chesil Bank. Bridport is a friendly unpretentious working West Dorset town with a very successful Arts Centre. Music and the arts feature very strongly in Town's social life. West Bay is within the Town boundary and is a busy harbour "village" with beaches, characteristic kiosks, fishing boats, pubs and restaurants. The town is 15 miles west of the County town of Dorchester and it is surrounded by many beautiful hills, with evidence of history back to Neolithic times. Main streets of Bridport are among the widest in the west of England and street markets have been held since Queen Elizabeth the First granted a Saturday market, since supplemented by another on Wednesdays. Bridport has over 1000 "listed" buildings of historic or architectural merit; the Town Hall, built in 1786, stands at the junction of East/West and South Streets. But the town dates back to the "Burh of Brydian", created by the Anglo Saxon Alfred the Great in the 9th century with coins minted from the time Athelstan. The surrounding area was ideal for growing flax and hemp, used for the production of ropes and nets which became the main industry, with sail and other cloth produced a few miles away. In 1213 King John demanded that Bridport make ropes and cables "by night and day". Later, this trade expanded, including supplies to Newfoundland and the wealth produced created many fine houses in the 18th century. Henry III made the town a Royal Borough in 1253 and Henry VII "protected" its hemp in 1505. Charles II escaped the Cromwellians here and there was a Monmouth Rebellion skirmish. An ointment, "The Poor Man's Friend", made by Giles Roberts, Doctor and apothecary in about 1800 was sold widely. Some of the history of the town is now depicted in stone in "Bucky Doo" square, near the Town Hall. The Parish Church and the Chantry, or Dungeness, may be of the 13th century. The Harbour was recorded in the 13th century and in 1444 the Bishop of Sarum granted an "Indulgence for its repair". It was used for import/export trade until the last century, but fishing still continues. In the Napoleonic Wars 16 ships were built here and one of 1,000 tons was launched in 1856, but wooden shipbuilding ceased twenty years later. An imposing block of flats, Pier Terrace, was designed by Edward Prior who followed the Arts and Crafts movement. There are also holiday flats and a caravan site, near the esplanade and beaches. The coastal path crosses West Bay, to climb the impressive cliffs. There is a golf course and nearby and a Real Tennis Court has been reopened recently, by Prince Edward.