BRIDPORT HARBOUR. 191 



1783. It was agreed that Mr. Bools should lodge his timber on the 

 ground belonging to the Corporation at the harbour, he paying 

 4 4s. Od. p. a. 



I propose now to discuss the suggested change in the course 

 of the river, to which passing allusions have been made in 

 the foregoing pages. The case can be conveniently stated in 

 interrogative form. 



(1) Is the hand of man responsible for the existing channel 

 through which the river enters the sea, and, as a consequence, 

 for the present site of the harbour ? 



(2) If the first question be answered in the affirmative, 

 where must we look for the natural estuary of the stream 

 and for the presumed, but rather doubtful, site of the haven 

 before the 18th century ? 



I imagine that a consideration of the clause quoted from the 

 agreement of 19 Jan., 1740, and of the words used in the 

 MS. book now in the keeping of the County Council, will 

 remove question (1) from the area of controversy, and 

 establish my contention that there was in fact a diversion of 

 the river. As regards question (2) I am not without hope that 

 the undermentioned circumstances will indicate with sufficient 

 clearness the position of Bridport Mouth in early days : 



(a) The historical evidence that the Plantagenet abbots of 

 Cerne did not claim any tolls in the river estuary, which, if it 

 had then occupied its present situation, would have been 

 within their manor of Symondsbury. 



(b) The fact that the land abutting on the east cliff is the 

 lowest portion of the open ground, and that therefore the 

 stream would seek an outlet at that point. It may be added 

 that the Axe at Axmouth and the Bredy at Burton Freshwater 

 follow a similar course, and flow out close to their respective 

 eastern cliffs. 



(c) Information from Mr. Edward S. Prior, F.S.A., to the 

 effect that about twenty -seven years ago, when trial holes 

 were dug to test the foundations for building behind the 

 foreshore and near to the east cliff, it was found that the 



