Bridport
Encyclopedia
Bridport is a market town
in Dorset
, England
. Located near the coast
at the western end of Chesil Beach
at the confluence
of the River Brit
and its Asker and Simene tributaries, it originally thrived as a fishing port and rope
-making centre (the hangman's rope being made at Bridport gave birth to the saying "stabbed with a Bridport dagger"). The port is no longer in existence although the harbour at West Bay is a mile away.
In 2006 West Dorset
district was named 10th best place to live in the UK. The town is twinned with Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue
, France
.
According to the 2001 Census
, the population
of Bridport stands at 12,977. One and a half miles from the town centre
and within the town's boundary lies West Bay
, a small fishing harbour known as Bridport Harbour until the arrival of the railway. At that time it was "rebranded" to its current name to make it sound more attractive. West Bay was also the scene for the opening shot of The Life and Times of Reginald Perrin and the 1950s
film of The Navy Lark
was also shot there. Bridport has been subject of articles where it was nicknamed "Notting Hill on Sea" but is also known to locals as "Bridders". The town attracts a large numbers of second home owners.
, Skilling, Coneygar
, Bothenhampton
, Bradpole
, Court Orchard and St Andrew's Well.
A number of these districts were formerly small surrounding villages which have gradually coalesced with Bridport over the years (see below). Bothenhampton
in particular is still regarded by locals as a separate village.
, Askerswell
, Bothenhampton
, Bradpole
, Burton Bradstock
, Chideock
, Evershot
, Eype
, Loders
, Powerstock
, Pymore, Shipton Gorge
, Skilling, Swyre
, Symondsbury
, Uploders
, Walditch
and West Bay
Jurassic Coast
and Chesil Beach
. The loose clay cliffs in the area are abundant with fossils making the area popular with fossil hunters. Its most famous landmark is the view of the conical Colmers Hill with small clump of trees aligned with West Steet.
Bridport, successors to the old firm of Bridport-Gundry. AmSafe’s aviation products can be found on most commercial aircraft, including seat belts, restraints, cargo and barrier nets, tie-downs, and cabin interior textiles.
Other companies include Curtiss Wright
and Edwards Sports. Amsafe and Edwards Sports are the main survivors of Bridport's 750-year-old rope and net making history. Even today, the goal nets of any major football championships are likely to have been made in Bridport as would be the tennis nets, the wooden posts and the umpire's chair at Wimbledon
.
Bridport has a thriving commercial centre with a twice-weekly street market
and monthly farmers' market
. A butcher's shop on West Allington (RJ Balson & Son) is known as "England's Oldest Family Butchers", and claims a continuous line of family butchers back to the year 1535.
. Anyone can participate in the swim which raises money for good causes. Many take the plunge in fancy dress and generally don't stay in the water for more than 10 minutes.
s. Other attractions on the day include carnival darts, carnival golf, a grand car boot sale
, carnival fete
and a fun fair. After the carnival South Street is closed for the night as live music
is played while people dance in the street. Bridport's fun fair, which is situated on Asker Meadow, a local nature reserve
next to Morrisons
supermarket, is open late.
A torchlight procession takes place the following night where 1,500 torches are carried 2 miles from the town centre to a bonfire
at West Bay. This is followed by live music and fireworks. West Bay's fun fair opens till late. The annual events raise money for local good causes and organisations.
weekend each year Bridport hosts the Melplash Show at the West Bay Showgrounds. One of Dorset
's three biggest agricultural show
s.
- Southampton
road A35
passes around Bridport on a bypass
and the A3066 to Crewkerne
, via Beaminster
starts in Bridport. There is also a direct road to Weymouth, the B3157 also known as the coast road, this take you through the coastal villages of Burton Bradstock
and Abbotsbury
.
There are regular buses to Weymouth and Axminster
every hour weekdays, and the X53 Exeter
- Poole
coastal service stops at the main bus station
every two hours most weekdays with some extra services during the school summer holidays. There are a few buses a day to Crewkerne and Yeovil
, and minor buses serving surrounding villages as well.
The nearest international airports are Exeter
and Bournemouth
.
closed on 5 May 1975 - one of the last closures directly associated with the "Beeching cuts" of the 1960s. The Bridport branch line ran from the junction with the Weymouth-Yeovil-Bristol "Heart of Wessex" line at Maiden Newton railway station
; it was usually operated in its final years by a single carriage "Class 122"
diesel train.
The nearest railway stations to Bridport now are at Maiden Newton, Crewkerne
, Dorchester
or Axminster
. There is an infrequent bus service to Maiden Newton (71) and a bus service linking Axminster station, Dorchester South and West stations, and Weymouth railway stations (31) and a bus service linking the majority of Exeter train stations, and Weymouth, Wool, Wareham, Poole, and formerly Bournemouth railway stations (X53)
with nearby Beaminster
School. It is a Specialist Language College.
Children also attend Beaminster School, Woodroffe School, Colyton Grammar School
and the Thomas Hardye School. There are daily buses running to these schools from Bridport.
. The church was substantially restored and altered in the 19th century.
Opposite the church is a Society of Friends Meeting House.
The Unitarian Chapel in the Garden on the north side of East Street next to the Literary and Scientific Institute is now an open faith community celebrating diverse beliefs differing from many other religions in that it believes in helping people find their own spiritual path rather than defining it for them . Essentially the chapel could be said to be a neutral, opensource personal-development resource.
"The Bees". They currently play in the Western Football League
division 1. The club was founded in 1885 and the home ground is St. Mary's Field.
The town's rugby union
club is Bridport RFC.
Bridport & West Dorset Golf Club is situated atop of the east cliff at West Bay. The club has an 18 hole links course, driving range
and pitch & putt course.
Bridport Barracudas Swimming Club is based at Bridport Leisure Centre. A thriving Water Polo section has junior and senior teams competing in the Dorset Water Polo League. Water Polo matches are held in summer in the outer harbour at West Bay, continuing a tradition dating back to 1898.
The area also hosts one of the last remaining real tennis
courts that was recently renovated with the aid of a lottery grant.
, musician and Stackridge
frontman Mutter Slater and socialist musician Billy Bragg
. Former Plymouth Argyle
and Torquay United
footballer and manager
Kevin Hodges
was born in the town, as was Silicon Valley's Neil Trevett
, VP of Mobile Content at NVIDIA
.
Bridport and the surrounding area was used to film Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
's Channel 4 television programme River Cottage
and the BBC dramas Harbour Lights starring Nick Berry
and Rockliffe's Folly starring Ian Hogg
.
which is published weekly on a Wednesday. There are also a number of free papers, one being A View From Bridport. The Dorset Echo
also serves Bridport and is published daily from Monday to Saturday.
Local television is served by BBC Spotlight based in Plymouth
and ITV West Country based in Bristol
. Terrestrial television is transmitted in digital from the Stockland Hill Transmitter
and also a digital relay transmitter based at Highlands End.
Bridport is a Met Office
coastal weather observation point and such it is often included as a place name on the BBC national weather map.
The town's local commercial radio station is Wessex FM
which broadcasts at 96.0FM. Owned by The Local Radio Company
it also serves Weymouth and Dorchester. BBC local Radio includes both BBC Radio Devon
and BBC Radio Solent
.
Bridport lies between boundaries of broadcasters of the South and those of the South West. Viewers in Bridport are more likely to receive news about Devon
and Cornwall
than they are about East
and North Dorset
. To bridge the gap in the county the BBC
proposed launching BBC Radio Dorset but this was soon dropped following BBC cut backs. The Dorset Broadcasting Action Group campaigns for better coverage in the area.
There is only one Bridport orientated website targeted at the local community rather than tourism. Called Bridport Radio, it doesn’t actually have any true radio content but instead is in the form of a newspaper format. The site mixes local information with comedic made up news stories like an article surrounding the fictitious Bridport monorail. The site allows users to comment on local subjects but disappointingly negative comments about the medias’ nickname of the town “Notting Hill on Sea” were highlighted by a national newspaper.
for late-night entertainment.
On a more positive note, the town can now boast three theatres: Bridport Arts Centre, the "Electric Palace Cinema" (opened in 2007) and The Lyric Theatre, reopened in September 2010. Each offers a different type of entertainment: The Bridport Art Centre holding a more traditional, seasonal programme with events from poetry to music; The Electric Palace promoting regular music gigs, monthly comedy nights and films and The Lyric offering quirky theatre, puppetry, comedy, clowning and music. In March 2009 the Electric Palace cinema hosted the world premiere of The Young Victoria
. There are also many events at the nearby Bridport Arts Centre. The Lyric Theatre is also the base of the children's theatre company, Stuff and Nonsense who rehearse, make puppets and perform their eccentric, family-friendly shows there throughout the year.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Located near the coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
at the western end of Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach, sometimes called Chesil Bank, in Dorset, southern England is one of three major shingle structures in Britain. Its toponym is derived from the Old English ceosel or cisel, meaning "gravel" or "shingle"....
at the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the River Brit
River Brit
The River Brit is a river located in west Dorset, England which flows into the English Channel. It rises just to the north of Beaminster and then flows south to Bradpole and Bridport, where it is joined by its tributaries, the River Simene and River Asker...
and its Asker and Simene tributaries, it originally thrived as a fishing port and rope
Rope
A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength...
-making centre (the hangman's rope being made at Bridport gave birth to the saying "stabbed with a Bridport dagger"). The port is no longer in existence although the harbour at West Bay is a mile away.
In 2006 West Dorset
West Dorset
West Dorset is a local government district and parliamentary constituency in Dorset, England. Its council is based in Dorchester. The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, and was a merger of the boroughs of Bridport, Dorchester and Lyme Regis, along with...
district was named 10th best place to live in the UK. The town is twinned with Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue
Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue
Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-Geography:Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue is situated in the Manche département, in the Basse-Normandie région. It is in the Quettehou canton, of the Cherbourg arrondissement. The town had a population of 2,097...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
According to the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of Bridport stands at 12,977. One and a half miles from the town centre
Town centre
The town centre is the term used to refer to the commercial or geographical centre or core area of a town.Town centres are traditionally associated with shopping or retail. They are also the centre of communications with major public transport hubs such as train or bus stations...
and within the town's boundary lies West Bay
West Bay (England)
West Bay, formerly known as Bridport Harbour, is situated approximately two miles from the centre of Bridport on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, England, and is at the confluence of the River Brit....
, a small fishing harbour known as Bridport Harbour until the arrival of the railway. At that time it was "rebranded" to its current name to make it sound more attractive. West Bay was also the scene for the opening shot of The Life and Times of Reginald Perrin and the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
film of The Navy Lark
The Navy Lark
The Navy Lark was a radio sit-com about life aboard a British Royal Navy frigate named HMS Troutbridge, based in HMNB Portsmouth, though in series 1 and 2 the ship and crew were stationed offshore at an unnamed location known simply as "The Island." In series 2 this island was revealed to be...
was also shot there. Bridport has been subject of articles where it was nicknamed "Notting Hill on Sea" but is also known to locals as "Bridders". The town attracts a large numbers of second home owners.
Suburbs
Bridport is composed of several small suburban districts, namely AllingtonAllington, Dorset
Allington is a large village and civil parish in Dorset, England. The village has a population of 614 according to the 2001 Census.Allington Hill is an Iron Age hill fort risingto 90m above the village, now managed by the Woodland Trust...
, Skilling, Coneygar
Coneygar
Coneygar is a suburb of Bridport in Dorset, England.-External links:*...
, Bothenhampton
Bothenhampton
Bothenhampton is a village in south west Dorset, England, just outside the town of Bridport. It is separated from the town only by the River Asker and the A35 Bridport by-pass. The village has a population of 2,186 , of which 45.5% are retired....
, Bradpole
Bradpole
Bradpole is a village in south west Dorset, England, in the Brit valley, one mile outside Bridport. The village has a population of 2,270 , 38.8% are retired.- External links :***...
, Court Orchard and St Andrew's Well.
A number of these districts were formerly small surrounding villages which have gradually coalesced with Bridport over the years (see below). Bothenhampton
Bothenhampton
Bothenhampton is a village in south west Dorset, England, just outside the town of Bridport. It is separated from the town only by the River Asker and the A35 Bridport by-pass. The village has a population of 2,186 , of which 45.5% are retired....
in particular is still regarded by locals as a separate village.
Surrounding villages
AllingtonAllington, Dorset
Allington is a large village and civil parish in Dorset, England. The village has a population of 614 according to the 2001 Census.Allington Hill is an Iron Age hill fort risingto 90m above the village, now managed by the Woodland Trust...
, Askerswell
Askerswell
Askerswell is a small village and civil parish in the West Dorset district of Dorset, England; situated west of Dorchester. The local travel links are located from the village to Maiden Newton railway station and to Exeter International Airport. The main road running through the village is...
, Bothenhampton
Bothenhampton
Bothenhampton is a village in south west Dorset, England, just outside the town of Bridport. It is separated from the town only by the River Asker and the A35 Bridport by-pass. The village has a population of 2,186 , of which 45.5% are retired....
, Bradpole
Bradpole
Bradpole is a village in south west Dorset, England, in the Brit valley, one mile outside Bridport. The village has a population of 2,270 , 38.8% are retired.- External links :***...
, Burton Bradstock
Burton Bradstock
Burton Bradstock is a village in south west Dorset, England. The village has a population of 979 . Situated on the Chesil Beach, east of Bridport the village nestles around the church of St...
, Chideock
Chideock
Chideock is a village in south west Dorset, England, situated on the A35 trunk road between Bridport and Lyme Regis. The village has a population of 597 based on the 2001 census....
, Evershot
Evershot
Evershot is a village in west Dorset, England, south of Yeovil. It is the second highest village in the county , the centre of the village lying at 175 metres above sea-level. The village has a population of 206...
, Eype
Eype
Eype is a small village in south west Dorset, England. The village is situated on the Jurassic Coast, several miles west of Bridport.Eype means "steep place" and many of its buildings can be traced back to the late eighteenth or early nineteenth centuries, but little is known in detail until the...
, Loders
Loders
Loders is a village in south west Dorset, England, two miles north east of Bridport. The village has a population of 502 . It is a linear village, sitting in a long valley between Waddon Hill and Boarsbarrow Hill, following the road between Bradpole and Askerswell, with another road parallel to...
, Powerstock
Powerstock
Powerstock is a village in south west Dorset, England, situated in a steep valley on the edge of the Dorset Downs, five miles north east of the market town of Bridport. The village contains many cottages and 2 inns: The Three Horseshoes near the church and The Marquis of Lorne Inn on the other...
, Pymore, Shipton Gorge
Shipton Gorge
Shipton Gorge is a village in south west Dorset, England, three miles east of Bridport. The village has a population of 319 , 11% of dwellings are second home....
, Skilling, Swyre
Swyre
Swyre is a village in south west Dorset, England, situated in a valley beside Chesil Beach six miles south east of Bridport. The village has a population of 109 ....
, Symondsbury
Symondsbury
Symondsbury is a village in south west Dorset, England, west of Bridport and west of Dorchester. The village is located just to the north of the A35 trunk road, which runs between Southampton and Honiton. The village has a pub , a pottery and a primary school...
, Uploders
Uploders
Uploders is a small village in West Dorset, England. It consists mainly of houses, and has a pub , and a playing field. The River Asker also runs through the village. It is a linear village, surrounding the minor road between Bridport and Askerswell. It is around half a mile from Loders, and around...
, Walditch
Walditch
Walditch is a small village in West Dorset, England. It is by the east of Bridport, a market town.Walditch has a Real tennis court, the site of which Henry VII of England played during his visits to the area....
and West Bay
West Bay (England)
West Bay, formerly known as Bridport Harbour, is situated approximately two miles from the centre of Bridport on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, England, and is at the confluence of the River Brit....
Landmarks
Bridport is situated on the world heritageWorld Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site on the English Channel coast of southern England. The site stretches from Orcombe Point near Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage in East Dorset, a distance of ....
and Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach, sometimes called Chesil Bank, in Dorset, southern England is one of three major shingle structures in Britain. Its toponym is derived from the Old English ceosel or cisel, meaning "gravel" or "shingle"....
. The loose clay cliffs in the area are abundant with fossils making the area popular with fossil hunters. Its most famous landmark is the view of the conical Colmers Hill with small clump of trees aligned with West Steet.
Industry and commerce
The town has some light industry, most notably Palmer's Brewery (JC & RH Palmer Ltd) which, under various aliases, owns other property in the town and which recently celebrated its bicentennial. Other established companies include AmSafeAmSafe
AmSafe Inc. is a manufacturer of air safety and securement products to the aerospace, defense, and ground transportation industries and maker of aircraft seatbelts. AmSafe makes the Aviation Inflatable Restraint , a seatbelt airbag approved by the FAA designed to improve occupant protection from...
Bridport, successors to the old firm of Bridport-Gundry. AmSafe’s aviation products can be found on most commercial aircraft, including seat belts, restraints, cargo and barrier nets, tie-downs, and cabin interior textiles.
Other companies include Curtiss Wright
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
and Edwards Sports. Amsafe and Edwards Sports are the main survivors of Bridport's 750-year-old rope and net making history. Even today, the goal nets of any major football championships are likely to have been made in Bridport as would be the tennis nets, the wooden posts and the umpire's chair at Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
.
Bridport has a thriving commercial centre with a twice-weekly street market
Street market
A street market is an outdoor market such as traditionally held in a market square or in a market town, and often held only on particular days of the week...
and monthly farmers' market
Farmers' market
A farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
. A butcher's shop on West Allington (RJ Balson & Son) is known as "England's Oldest Family Butchers", and claims a continuous line of family butchers back to the year 1535.
Culture
Bridport has an arts centre, cinema, library and museum. The museum, located in South Street, includes an extensive exhibition of the town's long history of rope-making.Bridport Literary Festival
The Bridport Literary Festival has been running since 2005 and has played host to the biggest literary lions including Elizabeth Jane Howard, Victoria Glendinning, Claire Tomalin, Jonathan Dimbleby, Max Hastings, Julian Fellowes, Alexander Waugh, John Julius Norwich, Minette Walters, Fay Weldon, Bill Oddie, Robin Hanbury–Tenison, Katharine Whitehorn, Kate Summerscale, Michael Dobbs and Ann Leslie DBE.Bridport Open Studios
The Bridport Art Scene has now gained a national profile, and over 100 artists now participate in the main Bridport Open Studios event that takes place over the three days of the August Bank Holiday weekend. The popularity of the event has led to three more open events in November, Easter and May. The biggest artist led venue is the St Michael's Studio complex on the St Michael's Trading Estate. It provides studios for 25 artists and attracted over 700 visitors to the 2009 Bridport Open Studios event.West Bay Wallow
The Bridport Round Table organises the West Bay Wallow which takes place on Boxing DayBoxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
. Anyone can participate in the swim which raises money for good causes. Many take the plunge in fancy dress and generally don't stay in the water for more than 10 minutes.
Food Festival
The Food Festival is held in late June at Asker Meadow. It showcases locally produced foods for which the area is well known. The Beer Festival is also held in the same field which is run by the Bridport Round Table and opens till late.RNLI raft race
The raft race, organised by the RNLI, is held in July in the River Brit basin at West Bay. Participants build a 'floating vessel' and row it a few hundred yards up the River Brit before returning to the lake by the harbour sluice gates. The idea is to avoid sinking, capsizing or falling in.Bridport Carnival
The town holds its annual carnival on the third Saturday in August. The main feature is a carnival parade of floats, walking acts and majoretteMajorette
Majorette is a French toy manufacturer which mostly produces small die-cast cars, particularly in 1:64 scale. Traditionally, Majorette was centered in the area of Lyon.-History:...
s. Other attractions on the day include carnival darts, carnival golf, a grand car boot sale
Car boot sale
Car boot/trunk sales or boot/trunk fairs are a mainly British form of market in which private individuals come together to sell household and garden goods.The term refers to the selling of items from a car's boot or trunk...
, carnival fete
Fête
Fête is a French word meaning festival, celebration or party, which has passed into English as a label that may be given to certain events.-Description:It is widely used in England and Australia in the context of a village fête,...
and a fun fair. After the carnival South Street is closed for the night as live music
Live Music
Live Music is a reggaeton company owned by DJ Giann.-Artists:* Jowell & Randy* Tony Lenta* Watussi* De La Ghetto* Guelo Star* Galante "El Emperador"-Producers:*DJ Blass*Dexter*Mr. Greenz*DJ Giann*Los Hitmen*Dirty Joe*ALX...
is played while people dance in the street. Bridport's fun fair, which is situated on Asker Meadow, a local nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
next to Morrisons
Morrisons
Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc is the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The company is usually referred to and is branded as Morrisons formerly Morrison's, and it is part of the FTSE 100 Index of companies...
supermarket, is open late.
A torchlight procession takes place the following night where 1,500 torches are carried 2 miles from the town centre to a bonfire
Bonfire
A bonfire is a controlled outdoor fire used for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration. Celebratory bonfires are typically designed to burn quickly and may be very large...
at West Bay. This is followed by live music and fireworks. West Bay's fun fair opens till late. The annual events raise money for local good causes and organisations.
Melplash Show
On the Thursday before the August bank holidayBank Holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
weekend each year Bridport hosts the Melplash Show at the West Bay Showgrounds. One of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
's three biggest agricultural show
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
s.
Transport
The main HonitonHoniton
Honiton is a town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, and , each pronunciation having its adherents...
- Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
road A35
A35 road
The A35 is a trunk road in southern England, running from Honiton in Devon, that then passes through Dorset and terminates in Southampton, Hampshire...
passes around Bridport on a bypass
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
and the A3066 to Crewkerne
Crewkerne
Crewkerne is a town in Somerset, England, situated south west of Yeovil and east of Chard in the South Somerset district close to the border with Dorset. The civil parish of West Crewkerne includes the hamlets of Woolminstone and Henley...
, via Beaminster
Beaminster
Beaminster is a small town and civil parish in the West Dorset district of Dorset in South West England, at the head of the valley of the River Brit. Beaminster is south of Bristol, west of Bournemouth, east of Exeter and northwest of the county town of Dorchester...
starts in Bridport. There is also a direct road to Weymouth, the B3157 also known as the coast road, this take you through the coastal villages of Burton Bradstock
Burton Bradstock
Burton Bradstock is a village in south west Dorset, England. The village has a population of 979 . Situated on the Chesil Beach, east of Bridport the village nestles around the church of St...
and Abbotsbury
Abbotsbury
Abbotsbury is a large village and civil parish in the West Dorset district of Dorset, England; situated north-west of Weymouth. It is located from Upwey railway station and from Bournemouth International Airport. The main road running through the village is the B3157, connecting Abbotsbury to...
.
There are regular buses to Weymouth and Axminster
Axminster
Axminster is a market town and civil parish on the eastern border of Devon in England. The town is built on a hill overlooking the River Axe which heads towards the English Channel at Axmouth, and is in the East Devon local government district. It has a population of 5,626. The market is still...
every hour weekdays, and the X53 Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
- Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
coastal service stops at the main bus station
Bus station
A bus station is a structure where city or intercity buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It is larger than a bus stop, which is usually simply a place on the roadside, where buses can stop...
every two hours most weekdays with some extra services during the school summer holidays. There are a few buses a day to Crewkerne and Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
, and minor buses serving surrounding villages as well.
The nearest international airports are Exeter
Exeter International Airport
Exeter International Airport is an airport located at Clyst Honiton in the District of East Devon close to the city of Exeter and within the county of Devon, South West England....
and Bournemouth
Bournemouth Airport
Bournemouth Airport is an airport located north-northeast of Bournemouth, in southern England...
.
Railway (until 1975)
Bridport railway stationBridport railway station
Bridport railway station was on the Bridport Railway in the west of the English county of Dorset. Opened with the branch on 12 November 1857 it was renamed Bridport when the West Bay extension opened, to distinguish it from East Street and West Bay stations. In 1902 it was renamed Bridport...
closed on 5 May 1975 - one of the last closures directly associated with the "Beeching cuts" of the 1960s. The Bridport branch line ran from the junction with the Weymouth-Yeovil-Bristol "Heart of Wessex" line at Maiden Newton railway station
Maiden Newton railway station
Maiden Newton railway station is a railway station serving the village of Maiden Newton in Dorset, England. The station is located on the Heart of Wessex line between and .-History:...
; it was usually operated in its final years by a single carriage "Class 122"
British Rail Class 122
The British Rail Class 122 diesel mechanical multiple units were built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958. Twenty single-car driving motor vehicles, called "Bubble Cars", were built, numbered 55000–55019...
diesel train.
The nearest railway stations to Bridport now are at Maiden Newton, Crewkerne
Crewkerne railway station
Crewkerne railway station is located in Misterton, Somerset, England, and serves the area around the town of Crewkerne. It is from London Waterloo on the West of England Main Line to Exeter. The main building is listed Grade II and is surrounded by several other old railway buildings.-History:The...
, Dorchester
Dorchester South railway station
Dorchester South railway station is one of two railway stations serving the town of Dorchester in Dorset. The station is located on the London Waterloo–Weymouth main line.- History :...
or Axminster
Axminster railway station
Axminster railway station serves the town of Axminster in Devon, England. Opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860, it is now served by South West Trains’ London Waterloo to Exeter services. It is from Waterloo.-History:...
. There is an infrequent bus service to Maiden Newton (71) and a bus service linking Axminster station, Dorchester South and West stations, and Weymouth railway stations (31) and a bus service linking the majority of Exeter train stations, and Weymouth, Wool, Wareham, Poole, and formerly Bournemouth railway stations (X53)
Primary schools
- Bridport Primary School
- St Mary's CE VC Primary School
- St Catherines RC Primary School
- Symondsbury CE VC Primary School
Secondary school
The Sir John Colfox School is Bridport’s only secondary school, located on the outskirts of the town. Serving ages 11 to 18 it also has a combined sixth formSixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
with nearby Beaminster
Beaminster
Beaminster is a small town and civil parish in the West Dorset district of Dorset in South West England, at the head of the valley of the River Brit. Beaminster is south of Bristol, west of Bournemouth, east of Exeter and northwest of the county town of Dorchester...
School. It is a Specialist Language College.
Children also attend Beaminster School, Woodroffe School, Colyton Grammar School
Colyton Grammar School
Colyton Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school located in the village of Colyford in East Devon and teaches students from years 7 to 13 ....
and the Thomas Hardye School. There are daily buses running to these schools from Bridport.
Local colleges and university
- YeovilYeovilYeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
College - Weymouth CollegeWeymouth CollegeWeymouth College is a Further Education college located in Weymouth, England.The college has over 7,000 students, studying on a wide range of practical and academic courses in many different subjects...
- Kingston Maurward CollegeKingston Maurward CollegeKingston Maurward College is a college for land-based studies situated two miles east of Dorchester, Dorset, England. The college is a member of the Landex group , an association of institutions that provide courses in agriculture and horticulture....
- Bournemouth UniversityBournemouth UniversityBournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
Churches
St Mary's Church was founded in the 13th century and a large proportion of the building dates from the 15th century.http://people.bath.ac.uk/lismd/dorset/churches/bridport.html There is a 17th century brass in St. Catherine's Chapel that commemorates Edward Coker who was killed in 1685 during the Monmouth RebellionMonmouth Rebellion
The Monmouth Rebellion,The Revolt of the West or The West Country rebellion of 1685, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some...
. The church was substantially restored and altered in the 19th century.
Opposite the church is a Society of Friends Meeting House.
The Unitarian Chapel in the Garden on the north side of East Street next to the Literary and Scientific Institute is now an open faith community celebrating diverse beliefs differing from many other religions in that it believes in helping people find their own spiritual path rather than defining it for them . Essentially the chapel could be said to be a neutral, opensource personal-development resource.
Sport
The town's football club is Bridport F.C.Bridport F.C.
Bridport Football Club is a football club based in Bridport, Dorset, England. They currently play in the Western League Premier Division.-History:...
"The Bees". They currently play in the Western Football League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
division 1. The club was founded in 1885 and the home ground is St. Mary's Field.
The town's rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club is Bridport RFC.
Bridport & West Dorset Golf Club is situated atop of the east cliff at West Bay. The club has an 18 hole links course, driving range
Driving range
A driving range is an area where golfers can practice their swing. It can also be a recreational activity itself for amateur golfers or when enough time for a full game is not available. Many golf courses have a driving range attached and they are also found as stand-alone facilities, especially...
and pitch & putt course.
Bridport Barracudas Swimming Club is based at Bridport Leisure Centre. A thriving Water Polo section has junior and senior teams competing in the Dorset Water Polo League. Water Polo matches are held in summer in the outer harbour at West Bay, continuing a tradition dating back to 1898.
The area also hosts one of the last remaining real tennis
Real tennis
Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended...
courts that was recently renovated with the aid of a lottery grant.
Notable people
Local celebrities include singer P.J. Harvey, actor Martin ClunesMartin Clunes
Alexander Martin Clunes is an English actor and comedian. Clunes is perhaps best known for his roles as Gary Strang in Men Behaving Badly, Doctor Martin Ellingham in Doc Martin and the title character in Reggie Perrin....
, musician and Stackridge
Stackridge
Stackridge are a British folk, pop and progressive rock group who were at the height of their success during the early 1970s. The band's output is characterized by quirky humour and rhythmic catchy sing-along tunes....
frontman Mutter Slater and socialist musician Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
. Former Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
footballer and manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
Kevin Hodges
Kevin Hodges
Kevin Hodges is a retired English footballer and manager who played as a midfielder, and now works as a coach. He spent the majority of his playing career with Plymouth Argyle of the Football League, where he is the club's all-time appearance record holder...
was born in the town, as was Silicon Valley's Neil Trevett
Neil Trevett
Neil Trevett is an electrical engineer and executive involved in 3D technology.Trevett has spent 20 years in the 3D graphics industry. In 1985, Trevett joined benchMark Technologies as Head of Graphics Systems....
, VP of Mobile Content at NVIDIA
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
.
Bridport and the surrounding area was used to film Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a British celebrity chef, television personality, journalist, food writer and "real food" campaigner, known for his back-to-basics philosophy...
's Channel 4 television programme River Cottage
River Cottage
River Cottage is a former weekend and holiday home that was originally a game-keeper's lodge in the grounds of Slape Manor, Netherbury, Dorset. From 1998 it was used by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall as a setting for three television series: Escape to River Cottage, Return to River Cottage and River...
and the BBC dramas Harbour Lights starring Nick Berry
Nick Berry
Nicholas "Nick" Berry is a British television actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Simon Wicks in the British soap opera EastEnders from 1985 to 1990 and as PC Nick Rowan in the British drama television series Heartbeat from 1992 to 1998.-Career:Berry started acting at the age of...
and Rockliffe's Folly starring Ian Hogg
Ian Hogg (actor)
Ian Hogg is a British actor.- Early life :He is the son of a doctor and was educated at Durham School, Durham University and the Central School of Speech and Drama...
.
Media
Bridport has one main local newspaper, The Bridport News owned by NewsquestNewsquest
Newsquest is the third largest publisher of regional and local newspapers in the United Kingdom with 300 titles in its portfolio. Newsquest is based in Weybridge, Surrey and employs a total of more than 5,500 people across the UK...
which is published weekly on a Wednesday. There are also a number of free papers, one being A View From Bridport. The Dorset Echo
Dorset Echo
The Dorset Echo is a daily newspaper published in the county of Dorset, England.The title publishes Monday to Saturday from editorial offices in Weymouth, and covers issues concerning south, central and west Dorset...
also serves Bridport and is published daily from Monday to Saturday.
Local television is served by BBC Spotlight based in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and ITV West Country based in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. Terrestrial television is transmitted in digital from the Stockland Hill Transmitter
Stockland Hill transmitting station
The Stockland Hill transmitting station is a transmitting facility of FM Radio and UHF television located near Honiton, Devon, England. This transmitter mainly serves the East of Devon and West Dorset.-Digital television:...
and also a digital relay transmitter based at Highlands End.
Bridport is a Met Office
Met Office
The Met Office , is the United Kingdom's national weather service, and a trading fund of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
coastal weather observation point and such it is often included as a place name on the BBC national weather map.
The town's local commercial radio station is Wessex FM
Wessex FM
Wessex FM is a local radio station for the Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport areas of Dorset. All content is broadcast from its studios in Dorchester, however the Big Top 40 Show is a network program...
which broadcasts at 96.0FM. Owned by The Local Radio Company
The Local Radio Company
The Local Radio Company is a British media company, originally based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, that owns ten independent local radio stations in the UK...
it also serves Weymouth and Dorchester. BBC local Radio includes both BBC Radio Devon
BBC Radio Devon
BBC Radio Devon is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Devon. It began transmissions on 17 January 1983, replacing a previous breakfast show for Devon and Cornwall broadcast on the local frequencies of Radio 4....
and BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent is the BBC Local Radio service for the Isle of Wight and the English counties of Hampshire and Dorset. Its studios are located in Southampton, in the same purpose-built office block in Havelock Road as the BBC South Today news studios, and there are district offices in Portsmouth,...
.
Bridport lies between boundaries of broadcasters of the South and those of the South West. Viewers in Bridport are more likely to receive news about Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
than they are about East
East Dorset
East Dorset is a local government district in Dorset, England. Its council is based in Furzehill, near Wimborne Minster.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of Wimborne Minster Urban District with part of the Ringwood and Fordingbridge Rural District and the Wimborne and Cranborne...
and North Dorset
North Dorset
North Dorset is a local government district in Dorset, England. It is largely rural, but includes the towns of Blandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton. Much of North Dorset is in the River Stour valley and is called the Blackmore Vale...
. To bridge the gap in the county the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
proposed launching BBC Radio Dorset but this was soon dropped following BBC cut backs. The Dorset Broadcasting Action Group campaigns for better coverage in the area.
There is only one Bridport orientated website targeted at the local community rather than tourism. Called Bridport Radio, it doesn’t actually have any true radio content but instead is in the form of a newspaper format. The site mixes local information with comedic made up news stories like an article surrounding the fictitious Bridport monorail. The site allows users to comment on local subjects but disappointingly negative comments about the medias’ nickname of the town “Notting Hill on Sea” were highlighted by a national newspaper.
Entertainment
The closure in 2005 of Bridport's only nightclub, "DeVinchies", left a void in Bridport's 'clubbing' scene, with many travelling to Weymouth, Dorchester and SeatonSeaton, Devon
Seaton is a seaside town in East Devon on the south coast of England. It faces onto Lyme Bay, to the west of the mouth of the River Axe with red cliffs to one side and white cliffs on the other. Axmouth and Beer are nearby...
for late-night entertainment.
On a more positive note, the town can now boast three theatres: Bridport Arts Centre, the "Electric Palace Cinema" (opened in 2007) and The Lyric Theatre, reopened in September 2010. Each offers a different type of entertainment: The Bridport Art Centre holding a more traditional, seasonal programme with events from poetry to music; The Electric Palace promoting regular music gigs, monthly comedy nights and films and The Lyric offering quirky theatre, puppetry, comedy, clowning and music. In March 2009 the Electric Palace cinema hosted the world premiere of The Young Victoria
The Young Victoria
The Young Victoria is a 2009 period drama film based on the early life and reign of Queen Victoria, and her marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The film was directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and written by screenwriter Julian Fellowes. Graham King, Martin Scorsese, Sarah, Duchess of...
. There are also many events at the nearby Bridport Arts Centre. The Lyric Theatre is also the base of the children's theatre company, Stuff and Nonsense who rehearse, make puppets and perform their eccentric, family-friendly shows there throughout the year.