Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. It is positioned about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) inland from the English Channel close to the confluence of the River Brit and its tributary the Asker. Bridport is composed of a number of small suburban districts, some of which had previously been separate villages. One and a half miles away from the town centre and within the boundary of the town is West Bay, a compact fishing harbour referred to as Bridport Harbour until the creation of the town's railway. As per 2012 population estimates, the town boasts a permanent population of approximately 14,700, which demonstrates a reasonable increase from the approximately 13,568 recorded during the 2011 Census. As recorded in council tax records, in 2014, the percentage of residences inside Bridport's built-up area that were second homes was 4.8%. The town's origins are Saxon and it features a lengthy history as a rope-making hub, although several of its buildings date back to the eighteenth century. During the 21st century, Bridport's arts scene has contributed to the town becoming increasingly well known with those from outside the area. It has an arts centre, theatre, library, cinema and museum, and a number of annual events. The Lyric Theatre, which reopened in 2010, hosts quirky theatre, puppetry, comedy, clowning and music. It's also the base of children's theatre company Stuff and Nonsense. Bridport Museum, situated in South Street, contains an in depth exhibition of the town's long history of rope-making. The town also features as Port Bredy in the fictional Wessex of Thomas Hardy's novels. For all of your property improvements, make sure that you utilise trusted experts in Bridport to make sure you get the best quality service.