Quirky Bridport

Bridport Museum has published a book that celebrates the quirkiness of the town – all those things that make Bridport a special place to live or to visit.

Quirky Bridport is not a guidebook, or a history book, or a heavyweight study of notable events in Bridport from the birth of the town — Brydian — to the 21st century. Just as your memory of Bridport and its surrounding villages is probably a jumbled collection that has grown messily over time, so this book mixes stories of Victorian adventure with 1930s circus and modern-day events. Antique postcards from museum archives sit alongside casual snapshots; local news photos appear next to wood block prints.

We’ve included some stories because they’re amusing or just plain bizarre: why, exactly, did those soldiers not save vital navigation equipment from the waves in 1942? Who was the polar explorer who dived for gold for the Treasury between the wars? And had you heard of Anthony Jowitt, local Hollywood star in the era of the talkies?

Most of the stories come from our archives, and are just a tiny sample of what’s hidden in the life of our town. Think of this collection as an idiosyncratic photo album, amassed by a very long-lived relative with wide-ranging tastes (and a particular sense of humour). Put simply, we chose these stories because we liked them. We hope you like them too.

Quirky Bridport has been reprinted and is available to purchase now from Bridport Museum and local bookshops.