BRIDPORT

:''For the location in Tasmania, see Bridport, Tasmania. For the location in Vermont, see Bridport, Vermont''
'Bridport' is a town in Dorset, England. Located near the coast at the Western end of Chesil Beach at the confluence of the rivers Brit and Asker, 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.
It is home to some light industry prominently, Palmer's Brewery (JC & RH Palmer Ltd), a company which owns around a quarter of the towns property under various alias, and which recently celebrated its bicentennial; and AmSafe Bridport (American Safety), successors to the old established firm of Gundry's and Edwards Sports, main survivors of the 750 year old rope and net making companies), a thriving commercial centre with twice-weekly street market, and a mixture of friendly and unpretentious housing estates that provide homes for a large community of retirees. The Sir John Colfox School provides a secondary education for 11 to 18 year-olds from the town and surrounding villages. Local celebrities include singer PJ Harvey, actor Martin Clunes, Antiques Roadshow presenter Paul Atterbury and champagne socialist musician Billy Bragg. Bridport and the surrounding area was used to film Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Channel 4 television programme ''River Cottage'' and also a BBC Drama, Harbour Lights.
According to the 2001 Census, the population of the Bridport parish stands at 12,977. One and a half miles from the town centre and within the town boundary lies West Bay, a small fishing harbour formerly known as Bridport Harbour.
Bridport has however seen the negative side of the press. During August 2006, Bridport hit the national news^[1] as a result of the stabbings of 3 young girls after alighting the number 31 bus, a First Group service that connects Weymouth to Axminster. The girls survived the incident with no major injuries and the offender, Ian Andrew Ruby, has since been to trial. ^[2]

Contents

Transport

Surrounding Villages

Nearby Attractions

See also

External links

References

Transport

The main Honiton - Southampton road A35 passes around Bridport on a bypass, and the A3066 to Crewkerne, via Beaminster starts in Bridport. The railway station in the town closed in 1975, and now the nearest stations are Maiden Newton, Crewkerne, Dorchester or Weymouth. There are regular buses to Weymouth and Axminster, and the X53 Exeter - Bournemouth coastal service stops at the main bus station. There are minor buses serving surrounding villages as well.

Surrounding Villages

★ Bothenhampton

★ Symondsbury

★ Pymore

★ Loders and Uploders

★ Askerswell

★ Powerstock

★ West Bay

★ Chideock

★ Burton Bradstock

★ Shipton Gorge

★ Swyre

★ Bradpole

★ Skilling

★ Allington

★ Eype

★ Evershot

★ Walditch

Nearby Attractions

Bridport is fast becoming a busy tourist destination in the summer, and there are many things for people to do in the area. In the town, there is the Arts Centre, a cinema and the leisure centre. There are many good walks locally as well, and lots of shady villages to explore. Then of course the world famous Jurassic Coast, and Chesil Beach. The area is good for fossil hunters as well. On the Thursday before the August Bank Holiday weekend each year Bridport hosts the Melplash Show, one of Dorset's three biggest agricultural shows, and on the previous weekend the town holds its annual carnival, which includes a procession through the streets and a torchlight procession down to the sea.

See also

★ Bridport FC

External links

★ Bridport Radio

★ St Michael's Studios

★ Bridport Artists

★ Bridport Open Studios

★ Bridport Golf Club

★ Bridport Leisure Centre

★ Bridport Arts Centre

★ Bridport Prize

★ Bridport Town and History

★ Census data

★ Official Bridport Web Site

★ A 360° 'virtual reality' panorama of Bucky Doo Square in Bridport.

References

★ Why everyone flocks to Notting Hill on Sea The Observer, 18 February 2007.

★ Welcome to Bridport, or Notting Hill on Sea The Telegraph, 17 March 2007.

★ Divine Dorset The Evening Standard, Homes & Property, 25 April 2007.

★ Bridports reaction to Notting Hill on Sea references. Bridport Radio 22 February 2007.

1. Police make stabbings arrest BBC News, 24 August 2006
2. Sentencing delayed again for bridport knifeman Dorset Echo, 22 March 2007