Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. It is situated around 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 incorporates several modest suburban districts, a number of which had previously been distinct villages. One and a half miles away from the town centre and within the boundary of the town is West Bay, a fishing harbour known as Bridport Harbour until the opening of the town's railway. With reference to the 2012 Census, the town has a permanent resident population of 14,700, which highlights a reasonable increase from the roughly 13,568 as per in the 2011 Census. As per council tax records, in 2014, the proportion of residences 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 long history as a rope-making location, though numerous of its buildings date back to the 18th century. During the twenty-first century, the arts scene in Bridport has contributed to the town becoming increasingly famous with those from outside the town. It has an arts centre, theatre, library, cinema and museum, and several 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, includes 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 of your property improvements, be certain that you select reliable specialists in Bridport to ensure you get a top quality service.