Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. It's positioned roughly 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) inland from the English Channel close to the confluence of the River Brit and the Asker. Bridport consists of a number of small suburban districts, a number of which used to be distinct villages. One and a half miles from the town centre and within the town's boundary is West Bay, a little fishing harbour generally known as Bridport Harbour till the creation of the railway. As per 2012 population estimates, the town features a resident population of roughly 14,697, which demonstrates a small increase from the around 13,500 recorded in the 2011 Census. According to council tax records, in 2014, the proportion of houses within 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 long history as a rope-making centre, although many of its buildings date from the 18th century. In the twenty-first century, Bridport's arts scene has contributed to the town becoming increasingly well known with those from outside the town. It has an arts centre, theatre, library, cinema and museum, and a number of 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, positioned in South Street, contains a significant exhibition 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 improvement jobs, be sure that you pick reputable experts in Bridport to ensure that you get the very best quality service.