Origin
of the Harbour
It seems likely that between the 1390's and 18th century an effective
harbour on the coast came and went, according to the movement of
the shingle bar and periodic storm damage. There may have been periods
when it was quite well developed but also periods when it was little
more than an anchorage, with no facilities for loading, unloading
or storage of goods. References during this time include:
|
1275
Records of the presence of sluices for shipping or to prevent flooding
|
1392
A harbour established but probably damaged and destroyed over the
next two centuries Towards the modern harbour
|
Towards
a modern harbour
|
1670
Early piers constructed
|
1749
Piers and sluice constructed
|
1760's
Ship building yard opened
|
1774
Public houses shown on site of Bridport Arms
|
1807
Extension to East Pier 1815 Further extension of East Pier
|
1824
Great Storm completely destroyed piers and caused massive damage
to
harbour, properties and shipyard. Expansive repairs to the pier
and harbour.
|
1832
-37 Rapid growth in buildings
|
1849
13 dwellings within boundary of ship yard
|
1856
West Pier badly damaged during ten days of storms
|
1857
Bridport railway constructed
|
1860
John Coode constructed stone and rubble filled piers.
|
1879
Ship building yard sold
|
1881
Harbour lost its bond port status - went into decline
|
1887
Esplanade opened and the Mound wall extended
|
1901
Construction of the Pavilion on the Mound
|
1908
Great Landslide West Cliff
|
1916
Extension of the Esplanade
|
1916
First bungalows built on West Cliff
|
1917
Storm damage to the harbour and Promenade
|
C
1917 Harbour Commissioners reported 8 to 10,000 cubic yards of shingle
were being removed per annum and ordered that this should stop (ineffective)
|
1921
Storm damage to eastern end of Esplanade
|
1922
Flooding of West Bay
|
1927
Storm - Damage in front of the Pavilion and the sea wall
|
1928
Esplanade damaged
|
1929
The Mound wall destroyed by storm and rebuilt
|
1929
opening of sea wall
|
1938
Flooding
|
1942
Major storm and extensive damage leading to demolition of the Pavilion
|
1944
Flooding
|
1950/1
Steel piling on East Pier
|
1955
Flooding due to storm
|
1961/2
West Pier piling works
|
1968/9
New promenade constructed and West Cliff re-graded
|
1967
promenade construction
|
1967
- 70 programme of works on both piers including sheet piling
|
1970
East Pier breached and repaired
|
1971
Landslide on West Cliff. Drainage installed
|
1971/2
East Pier breached by storms
|
1974
Severe storm caused flooding and damaged shipyard housing development
Major flooding 1974
|
1974
Old Shipyard housing development completed
|
1976
West Pier emergency repairs
|
1976
Last commercial ship to offload timber
|
1978
Exceptional storm caused extensive damage to sea walls and freak
denudation of East Beach causing great damage to property
|
1978
Rock armour placed at root of West Pier and the Mound. Works on
the Esplanade
|
1981
Severe storm
|
1981
Slumping in West Cliff
|
1982
Extensive repair work to the Esplanade. 18,500 tonnes of rock armour
added to the sea defence over previous four years
|
1982/4
Commercial shingle extraction stopped
|
1986
Flood defence wall constructed around harbour
|
1987/8
Emergency works to West Pier. Re-grade of West Cliff
|
1989/90
Strengthening of rock armour at the root of West Pier
|
1991
Emergency works to East Pier 1995 Emergency repairs to West Pier
|
1995
Emergency works
|
1997
Loss of shingle on West Beach
|
2000
Emergency repairs to West Pier
|
| Source:
Keystone report for West Dorset District Council |
