162 BRIDPORT HARBOUR. 



provided an ideal situation for a port ; accordingly we must 

 seek the motive for harbour building in the dangerous 

 character of the coast and the scarcity of other places of 

 refuge. 



This harbour lies at the mouth of a river which flows to 

 the sea through a valley extending in a northerly direction 

 towards Bridport town, one and a half miles from the shore, 

 the waters of the river being tidal for about half that distance, 

 but not at the present day navigable for ships. The opening 

 between the cliffs which stand east and west of the river mouth 

 is a little less than 600 yards in width, the two piers being 

 approximately midway between the high ground on either 

 hand ; at the north or inner end of the piers is an excavated 

 basin. Such, in a few words, are the physical features of the 

 spot. 



In order to understand the claims and counterclaims 

 put forward in the thirteenth century as to the barrier of 

 shingle and sand w r hich protected the river valley from 

 encroachment by the sea, it must be remembered that the 

 nearest point of the borough boundary was then one mile 

 inland, and that the townsmen did not own, either collectively 

 or as individuals, the foreshore or the adjacent soil ; they did, 

 however, assert, as the sequel will show, a right to take 

 certain tolls in connection with the estuary of the river, but 

 the origin of that privilege cannot now be accurately defined. 



The first charter of incorporation, dated 22 June 37 Henry 

 III. (1253) recites that the King's town of Bridport shall in 

 future be a free borough and that the good men shall hold 

 the same with all the liberties and free customs pertaining 

 to such a borough, paying therefor an increase of 40s. in 

 addition to the " farm " previously rendered to the King, 

 but saving to the King his rights and all services due (vide 

 Charter roll of that year). This grant by Henry III. does not 

 contain any specific licence in support of the demand after- 

 wards set up by the inhabitants to tax vessels in a harbour 

 which was outside their borough, but conceivably the general 

 words above quoted were regarded as sufficient to transfer 



