Listed Building record MDO12409 - Bridport Arms Hotel, West Bay, Bridport

The Bridport Arms Hotel appears to have developed from a single house to the present range of buildings and yards between the 17th-20th centuries. It may have begun as a single farmhouse with fold yard. It was extended in the 18th century as a public house. There were a number of 19th and 20th century additions.

The Mackenzie chart of 1787 shows it as a rectangular building labelled as a public house. <1> The projecting wing at the south end of the west front appears to have been added in the first quarter of the 19th century and is shown on a plan of the harbour dated between 1819-1823 <2>. The Bridport Arms Hotel appears to have developed from a single house to the present range of buildings and yards between the 17th-20th centuries. The earliest phase of building appears to be contained within the rectangular block at the south end of the hotel, where a single 17th century beam with chamfer and plain label stop survives. Possibly the present building preserves the plan form of the 17th century house with a cross passage. This house possibly dates to the first half of the 17th century and may have been a farmhouse with a fold yard on the eastern side. <4> During the 18th century there appear to have been two consecutive additions to the north side of the 17th century building and the roof over the 17th century part was replaced. All three parts are thatched. The first addition (c. 1750) had a contemporary lean-to to the east and the walls appear to have been stone rubble, but most details have been destroyed or obscured by opening up the interior to form the public bar. The second addition to the north was probably added during the last quarter of the 18th century and appears to have consisted of a single room at the north end and a smaller entrance passage to the south. This part was dated to the 17th century by the Royal Commission <3>. The stable block in the northeast part of the site was built c. 1850 and the main structural elements appear to survive, but it is much altered. Internally to form hotel accommodation. <4> During the early 20th century there were a number of extensions to the east of the main block and after 1920 a steel framed garage was constructed between the main block and the stable block across the northern part of the site. <4> The garage and a number of the other 20th century additions were demolished during the redevelopment of the site in 2004. <5> 17th and 18th century inn and hotel, 2 blocks linked by modern hotel and garage extension. West side whitewashed and partly plastered. East side hammer dressed stone. Thatched roofs. 2 storeys. West side has casements with glazing bars, and 1 cased sash with glazing bar. Most other openings modern. <11>

Record last edited

Dec 22 2022 7:16PM