Walk Leader
Lois Wakeman
Capacity
10
St Michael's Estate in the market town of Bridport is a rare example of an unimproved trading estate, sadly earmarked for demolition and replacement with modern housing - so this is an opportunity to record it for posterity. It houses a large number of small businesses, including artists, artisans, craftspeople and a large antiques/vintage presence; some in listed structures and others in shabby outbuildings.
If you like dilapidation, rust, bricks and corrugated iron, you'll probably find this a rewarding experience.
Photos of buildings, textures, forgotten corners and the people working here are all worthwhile subjects.
More a wander than a walk, you can make this as short or long as you wish - the estate is quite compact and you can see a lot in an hour or two. There is a café on site, and lots of places to eat in the town centre, just a 5-minute walk away.
Walk Location
50.732899, -2.761226
Walk Directions
Meet at the NW corner of Rope Walks Car Park, Bridport DT6 3RH (behind Waitrose).
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(If anyone can't get there at 9.30, you can come and find us on the estate - call my mobile if you need.)
This is a short stay car park but there is a limited-space long stay carpark at the bus station or in Tannery Road nearby. Saturdays are market days and quite busy even out of season so give yourself time to find a space. (There is also rough parking on the estate itself, but not really fair to take it up if we aren't visiting the businesses!)
Bridport is on several local bus routes (Bridport – Bus Times) but not really accessible by train.
Accessibility
Don't wear your best shoes - the ground can be wet and muddy and is uneven in places. If you have difficulty walking or with balance, bring a stick or pole. There are no significant hills to negotiate though; I would guess that most of the exteriors would be accessible with care in a capable mobility scooter, but am no expert so you'd need to research this.
The whole estate is about 10 acres in extent; you may also wish to walk into town to look at the market and historic architecture of the wide main streets which were used for rope making - a staple industry in the past.
Feedback Meeting Type
In Person
Feedback Talk Date and Time
Feedback Talk Address
Literary and Scientific Institute
51 East Street
Bridport
DT6 3JX
United Kingdom
Feedback Talk Location
50.733365569488, -2.755403266291
Feedback Talk Directions
We have now booked the LSI meeting room in Bridport together with Portland walkers for our show and tell session, and have the use of the courtyard for a picnic/packed lunch. Tea and coffee are provided.
The institute is at 51 East Street, Bridport DT6 3JX, on the main street. You may be able to park in the East Street carpark which is closest, but are more likely to find a space in Victoria Grove or Rope Walks (our walk meeting place), both of which are accessed from West Street.
If anyone is unable to make the meeting, we may be able to arrange a zoom follow-up.