Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England. It's located roughly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) inland from the English Channel close to the confluence of the River Brit and its tributary the Asker. Bridport consists of numerous small suburban districts, some of which once were separate villages. 1.5 miles from the town centre and inside the boundary of the town is West Bay, a fishing harbour known as Bridport Harbour until the establishment of the railway. As per 2012 population estimates, the town boasts a resident population of around 14,700, which demonstrates a fair increase from the around 13,500 as per during the 2011 Census. In accordance with council tax records, in 2014, the percentage 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 boasts a lengthy history as a rope-making centre, although several of its buildings date from the 18th century. In the 21st century, the arts scene in Bridport has contributed to the town becoming increasingly famous with individuals from outside the area. 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 is also the base of children's theatre company Stuff and Nonsense. Bridport Museum, located in South Street, consists of an extensive 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 home improvement work, be sure that you employ trustworthy experts in Bridport to make sure you get a top quality service.