I -2 4 HISTORY OF BRIDPORT. 



In the translation with additions of the Britannia of Camden 

 (who lived 1551 to 1623), revised by Gibson, it is said " Next," (to 

 Charmouth) " is Burtport, or rather Birtport, seated between two 

 small rivers meeting there, in a soil which produces the best 

 hemp." After him Coker's Survey of Dorsetshire, 1732, speaks 

 of " Bertport, an antient Burrough, seated between two Rivers." 

 Bridport also has not been without notices in verse, for Drayton 

 (1563 to 1631), Poet Laureate, speaks of it in his Polyolbion in 

 the following lines : 



" to Bert-port which hath gain'd 

 That praise from every place, and worthilie obtain'd 

 Our cordage from her store, and cables should be made, 

 Of any in that kind most tit for marine trade." 



And Gay in his " Journey to Exeter" writes, though in not very 

 complimentary terms of our wide streets, 



" Through Bridport 's stony lanes our rout we take." 



But I must not linger on general description. Our town, 

 though an old one, has not preserved much of its ancient 

 character, though there are some things remaining which will 

 interest those of our Club who are antiquarians. The 

 Parish Church is of ancient date, though it " cannot have been 

 erected," I quote from the Rev. Jos. Maskell's History and 

 Topography of Bridport, a small brochure published in 1855, 

 "before the latter part of the 14th or early in the 15th century," 

 the style of architecture belonging " to the perpendicular order," or 

 partaking " more or less both of the decorated and perpendicular 

 styles." In Hutchins it is said that " its architecture is mainly 

 Perpendicular," but it is added "a considerable portion of the 

 transepts is of Early English character." The Church was restored 

 in 1859-60, when the nave was lengthened, but the greater part of 

 the old building remains. The north and south transept windows 

 are worthy of notice, as is also a small room over the south porch. 

 There is a great lack of ancient monuments ; there remains " an 

 ettigic of a man cross-legged, in complete armour, except the head, 



