Fleet Cottage West Bay Dorset

 

 

The predominant industry in the town was rope making and in 1213 King John demanded that Bridport produce ropes and cables, night and day for his army and navy. This industry was later to expand to trade all over the world, including Newfoundland.

In 1253 Henry III made the town a Royal Borough, confirmed by Elizabeth I and James I. In 1651 Charles II stayed in the town to escape the Cromwellian Army.

 

 

Bridport lies just over a mile inland from the coast at West Bay where the River Brit flows out to the sea. It nestles among the hills of West Dorset

Bridport is a Beacon Town in recognition of the quality and diversity of its locally produced foodstuffs and was Runner Up for the 2006 South West Local Food Award. Many local producers trade at the Farmers Market in the Arts Centre on the second Saturday of the month and also trade on the Wednesday and Saturday street markets.

 

 

The main streets of Bridport are amongst the widest in the west of England . There are over 1000 listed buildings of historical or architectural merit, many of these were built for successful business men associated with the rope making industry, West Mill and The Court in West Street are two of such industrial buildings.