Monument record MWX1552 - Bridport Harbour

The first records of a harbour at Bridport date from 1392, though the first structural evidence for the harbour dates from 1740-3. The harbour has undergone several periods of rebuilding and repairs. The current harbour consists of two parallel moles, built of huge ashlar blocks, partly revetted with iron and reinforced concrete. The remainder of the harbour walls have huge timber and steel piles. Some of the original stone drains remain.

Evidence for a medieval harbour, as far upstream as modern Bridport, is first derived from a reference in a Court record of 1279-80. It has been suggested that a small harbour may have existed near the confluence of the rivers, to the west of the Chantry. In 1385 there was a decision to build a harbour 'where there was none' but this location is not known. By 1450 this new harbour was in disrepair. <1>

The site of the earliest moorings for Bridport are not known but are suggested at SY461910, SY464919, SY465921 and SY464924. A proper harbour was not built until the reign of Richard II. Since then it has been destroyed and rebuilt on several occasions. The present harbour layout at West Bay is due to the improvements made 1823-5 by the engineer Francis Giles, having been constructed in 1740-4.<2-3>

The 'Basin' is marked on an 1840 Tithe Map. <5>

<1> DOE (HRR), 1975, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: District of West Dorset 1975 (Scheduling record). SWX1433.

<2> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 443 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<3> Hannah, G W, 1986, The Evolution of Bridport Harbour, p27-31 (Article in serial). SWX4687.

<4> Cox, P, Chandler, J, and Cotton, J, 1997, The Proposed Redevelopment of the Southwest Quadrant, Bridport: Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Assessment (Unpublished document). SWX8617.

<5> Unknown, pre-2004, Collection of Digitised Tithe Maps (Digital archive). SWX8753.

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 2K/08440 (Index). SDO14738.

BRIDPORT SURVEY.

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BF096756 (Index). SDO14738.

Bridport Harbour, West Bay, Bridport

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BF111624 (Index). SDO14738.

Bridport Project

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, DP000714 (Index). SDO14738.

General view of Bridport Harbour, West Bay, showing Pier Terrace in the background

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, DP000715 (Index). SDO14738.

General view of the new walkway by Bridport Harbour, West Bay

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, DP000716 (Index). SDO14738.

General view of the new harbour at Bridport Harbour, West Bay, looking towards the new piers

<12> Historic England, Historic England Archive, DP000735 (Index). SDO14738.

General view of Bridport Harbour, West Bay, showing the new walkway on a pier to the south-west of the harbour

<13> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP10370 (Index). SDO14738.

A barquentine rig in the harbour at West Bay. Pier Terrace to the left was designed by the English Arts and Crafts architect Edward Schroeder Prior in 1884-5

<14> National Record of the Historic Environment, 893406 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 3:46PM