Bridport is a market town within Dorset, England. It's situated 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 is composed of many small suburban districts, some of which were previously distinct villages. 1.5 miles from the town centre and within the town's boundary is West Bay, a small fishing harbour called Bridport Harbour until the opening of the town's railway. As per 2012 population estimates, the town has a population of around 14,700, which demonstrates a substantial increase from the around 13,500 recorded in the 2011 Census. As outlined by 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 features a long history as a rope-making centre, though many of its buildings date back to the eighteenth century. During the twenty-first century, the arts scene in Bridport has contributed to the town becoming increasingly well-known 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, in South Street, contains a substantial 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 sure that you employ trusted pros in Bridport to ensure you get the top quality service.