Club History

The Club was founded in 1947 with its Charter dated 13th August 1947, and given the club number 19916, our mother being the Weymouth Club with whom Bridport developed a close relationship.

Our two daughter clubs are Lyme Regis, chartered on 1st December 1950 and Brit Valley chartered on 8th May 1991.

The club was fortunate in establishing twinning exchanges with the Rotary Club of Jarnac, with our club’s first visit to Jarnac in 1969 with President Gilbert White. Alternating visits used to take place every other year.

The shield background shows a rope and net, Bridport having been noted for rope, hemp fabrics and net making for over 800 years. The rams head is that of a Dorset Horn sheep. This breed has been used in sheep breeding programme

In 1213 King John instructed "Cause to be made at Bridport, night and day, as many ropes for ships both large and small and as many cables as you can, and twisted yarns for cordage for balistae"

Throughout the centuries Royal Navy always used Bridport ropes.