Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. It's approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) inland from the English Channel close to the confluence of the River Brit and its tributary the Asker. Bridport is composed of many compact suburban districts, a number of which used to be distinct villages. 1.5 miles from the town centre and within the town's boundary is West Bay, a small fishing harbour generally known as Bridport Harbour until the creation of the railway. With reference to population estimates of Bridport made in 2012, the town has a population of about 14,697, which demonstrates a modest increase from the around 13,500 recorded in the 2011 Census. As outlined by council tax records, in 2014, the proportion 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 features a lengthy history as a rope-making centre, though many of its buildings date back to the 18th century. In the 21st century, Bridport's arts scene has contributed to the town becoming increasingly well-liked with people from outside the town. It has an arts centre, theatre, library, cinema and museum, and various annual 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, in South Street, consists of a significant 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 your property improvements, make certain that you select reliable specialists in Bridport to make sure you get a top quality service.