Bridport

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For the location in Tasmania, see Bridport, Tasmania.

Map sources for Bridport at grid reference SY4692

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").

It is home to some light industry prominently, Palmer's Brewery (JC & RH Palmer Ltd), 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. Bridport and the surrounding area was used to film Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Channel 4 television programme River Cottage. Other local celebrities include the actor Martin Clunes, singer PJ Harvey and champagne socialist musician Billy Bragg.

According to the 2001 Census, the population of the Bridport parish stands at 12,977. Surrounding villages include Eype, Loders and Uploders. 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.