Bridport is a market town within Dorset, England. It's located roughly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) inland from the English Channel near the confluence of the small River Brit and its tributary the Asker. Bridport is composed of several compact suburban districts, some of which used to be distinct villages. 1.5 miles away from the town centre and inside the town's boundary is West Bay, a fishing harbour generally known as Bridport Harbour till the establishment of the town's railway. As per population estimates of Bridport recorded in 2012, the town boasts a permanent resident population of 14,697, which demonstrates a modest increase from the 13,500 as per in the 2011 Census. In line with council tax records, in 2014, the percentage of properties inside Bridport's built-up area that were second homes was 4.8 per cent. The town originated in the Saxon period and it has a lengthy history as a rope-making centre, though many 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 individuals from outside the town. 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's also the base of children's theatre company Stuff and Nonsense. Bridport Museum, located in South Street, contains a comprehensive archive 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 your house improvements, make sure that you work with reliable specialists in Bridport to make sure you get a good quality service.