Bridport is a market town within Dorset, England. It is situated approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) inland from the English Channel near the confluence of the River Brit and its tributary the Asker. Bridport incorporates various modest suburban districts, a number of which once were distinct villages. 1.5 miles away from the town centre and inside the boundary of the town is West Bay, a small fishing harbour known as Bridport Harbour until the arrival of the town's railway. With reference to 2012 population estimates, the town has a permanent population of roughly 14,700, which demonstrates a sizeable increase from the around 13,568 recorded during the 2011 Census. As outlined by council tax records, in 2014, the proportion of residences inside Bridport's built-up area that were second homes was 4.8%. The town originated in the Saxon period and it boasts a lengthy history as a rope-making area, though many of its buildings date back to the eighteenth century. In the twenty-first century, Bridport's arts scene has contributed to the town becoming increasingly well known with individuals from outside the town. It has an arts centre, theatre, library, cinema and museum, and many 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, in South Street, includes 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 home improvement tasks, be sure that you employ reliable specialists in Bridport to ensure that you get a top quality service.