Bridport is a market town within Dorset, England. It's about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) inland from the English Channel near the confluence of the River Brit and its tributary the Asker. Bridport includes various modest suburban districts, a few of which once were distinct villages. 1.5 miles from the town centre and within the boundary of the town is West Bay, a little fishing harbour called Bridport Harbour till the arrival of the railway. With reference to the 2012 Census, the town has a resident population of roughly 14,697, which demonstrates a sizeable increase from the roughly 13,568 as per during the 2011 Census. As recorded in council tax records, in 2014, the percentage of houses within Bridport's built-up area that were second homes was 4.8%. The town originated in the Saxon period and it features a long history as a rope-making centre, although many of its buildings date from the 18th century. In the 21st century, the arts scene in Bridport 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 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 lengthy 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, be certain that you choose vetted professionals in Bridport to ensure that you get a top quality service.