Bridport History
During Alfred the Great's reign of 871 to 899, he, the King of Wessex
protected his Kingdom against the Danes by setting up a system of defended places or 'Burhs'.
'Bridian' or the place at 'Bridi' was one such secure place. However, it appears that this
defence was originally further east of the current location of Bridport, probably being centred on
the River Bride. It may have then been moved to a more consolidated defence establishment to
the west, at 'Brydian' on the River Woth or Wooth, later to be renamed the River Brit. Further
evidence of this is recorded in the Doomsday Book of 1086, whereby the village of Burton Bradstock
was recorded as 'Bridetona', meaning the 'Village of the River Bride'.
At this time the River Brit was navigable as far as Bridport at high tide by small flat bottomed ships,
records suggesting that a small harbour existed a mile inland on the (at the time) southern
boundary of the borough. By the time of King Athelstan/Ethelstan's reign of 924 to 939,
the first true King of England (controlling all of England except Cumbria),
Bridport was licensed to mint coins, which also implies mercantile and trading interests, i.e.
Brydian had become a 'Market' town. By the time of the Doomsday Book in 1086, the word 'Port'
had been added to the town's name (implying a trading town, as opposed to having a harbour or port).
The Doomsday Book appears to suggest that ownership of the West Bay area around the
11th Century was split between Symondsbury holding the west bank of the River Brit for the
Abbey of Cerne and Burton Bradstock holding the east bank for the Crown. However, medieval
records indicate disputes over both beaches and harbour involving a third party upstream on the River
Brit; the Borough of Bridport. 'Right of Wreck' was a contentious issue, the Abbot of Cerne and
the Prior of Frampton (for Burton Bradstock) apparently often taking legal action against the
'Borough' for removing wrecks from the foreshore. In 1280, Bridport claimed all rights to sea
wrecks on the beaches and then in 1288, claimed rights to 'Take tolls from all Ships'.
Bridport was land-locked, the only access being along the River Brit.
Boroughs achieved their status by charter through the Court of Chancery,
purchasing from the Crown certain liberties and rights to manage their own trade, market, port
tolls and justice. Bridport was granted its borough charter in 1253 during Henry III's
reign, though its status was recognised before this time.
East Street and West Street were added at the northern end of the town's South
Street during the 13th Century and probably developed from the old Dorchester to Exeter
Roman route. These streets were deliberately made wide for the drying
and twisting process of rope making, the ropes being hung across the streets. The area
around Bridport was excellent for growing hemp and flax, for rope and sail production.
In 1211 King John commissioned, according to 'Bridport weight', for large supplies
of hempen thread to produce ships' ropes and cables, due to the imminent war with France.
Two years later King John ordered that there be 'made at Bridport by night and day, as many
ropes for ships both large and small as they could'.
Ropes from Bridport had many other uses and the term 'To be stabbed by a Bridport
dagger' merely meant to be hanged at the gallows!
The Chantry in South Street is thought to be the oldest building in Bridport.
Built in the 13th or 14th Century, evidence of this medieval tower house suggests
that it probably originated as a beacon for ships. If a vessel approaching Bridport Harbour kept
the tower in view, it would avoid the two underwater reefs of the Ram and Pollock, which lie on either
side of the harbour approach. In 1369 the building was converted into a chantry (a priest's house).
By this time there were friars in Bridport preaching the bible.
From 1395, Bridport was represented in Parliament by 2 MP's.
In the 16th Century, Elizabeth I confirmed the right for Bridport to
hold a twice weekly market and three annual fairs. The markets still survive, on Wednesdays
and Saturdays. However, only one fair is still active, that of the town's annual carnival in August.
In 1619, James I incorporated Bridport by granting a mayor and corporation.
In around 1625, the plague reached Bridport.
In 1651, Charles II was almost captured by troops at the 'Old George Inn' in East
Street after his defeat from Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester.
In 1685, the Duke of Monmouth's first conflict occurred at the 'Bull Inn' in
East Street during his failed attempt to overthrow his uncle, James II from the throne.
At the junction where East Street meets South Street is Bridport's Grade I listed
Georgian Town Hall. It was built in 1786 upon the old site of St Andrew's Chapel, while the
cupola and clock were a later addition in 1806. Running through the structure are four ships'
masts. The upper story had originally been a court for borough sessions, a separate room for
the grand jury and a council chamber. The ground floor, initially known as 'The Shambles',
now the 'Market House' was originally an open area, housing numerous Bridport butchers, now only
one. The passage below Bridport Town Hall and a small square next to it in South Street is
called 'Bucky Doo'.
Doctor Giles L. Roberts, a Methodist and apothecist in Bridport, produced a widely used
ointment in the early 1800's called the 'Poor Man's Friend', the recipe now being held at the
Bridport Museum.
On 12th November 1857, the Bridport Railway Company opened its branch
line from Maiden Newton, through Powerstock to Bridport. An operating licence for the line
was awarded to the Great Western Railway, who were to later take overall control of the line and
extend it down to West Bay. Ultimately, on 3rd May 1975, the line was to close
after having become Dorset's last branch railway.
In October 1863, an earthquake hit the West Dorset coast at around 4:00am.
In 1868, the number of MP's representing Bridport was reduced to 1 and then
lost all representation in Parliament in 1885.
During the First World War (1914-1918), steel wire anti-submarine nets were
manufactured in Bridport.
In 1927, parish boundaries were changed. Bridport Town Council was
granted control of West Bay as far as the foot of east and west cliffs. A strip of
land from the east bank of the River Brit to just east of West Bay Road, linking Bridport to
West Bay, was also passed over at the expense of Burton Bradstock Parish. Symondsbury
and Burton Bradstock had previously shared parish control of West Bay.
Bridport supplied the goal nets for England's football world cup victory in
1966 and also supplies Wimbledon's tennis court nets.
In 1987 the Bridport Bypass was opened, thus diverting the main A35 Dorchester
to Honiton road around the south side of the town instead of through the traffic bottleneck of
East Street and West Street.
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