Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. It is roughly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) inland from the English Channel near the confluence of the small River Brit and the Asker. Bridport includes many small suburban districts, some of which were previously separate villages. One and a half miles from the town centre and within the boundary of the town is West Bay, a modest fishing harbour generally known as Bridport Harbour till the arrival of the railway. With reference to population estimates of Bridport noted in the middle of 2012, the town boasts a permanent population of around 14,700, which demonstrates a significant increase from the around 13,500 as per during the 2011 Census. In accordance with council tax records, in 2014, the percentage of residences within Bridport's built-up area that were second homes was 4.8%. The town originated in the Saxon period and it boasts a long history as a rope-making centre, although many of its buildings date back to the 18th century. During the 21st century, Bridport's arts scene has contributed to the town becoming increasingly popular with people from outside the area. It has an arts centre, theatre, library, cinema and museum, and many yearly events. The Lyric Theatre, which reopened in 2010, hosts quirky theatre, puppetry, comedy, clowning and music. It is also the base of children's theatre company Stuff and Nonsense. Bridport Museum, located in South Street, includes an extensive 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 improvement projects, make certain that you pick trusted experts in Bridport to make sure you get the best quality service.