Timeline of Bridport Leisure Centre

– our community Leisure Centre across the years –

The history of the site of Bridport Leisure Centre as a sports and leisure ground can be traced to the establishment of Bridport Cricket Club in 1885. For some 200 years, the grounds have been owned by Palmers Brewery and sport has continued from then until now, free of charge, with the Palmer family support.

The catalyst that led to the facilities we see there now today was the installation of the squash courts.

Anthony Palmer made a site available by the Cricket Pavilion and two Banbury concrete courts were erected.

This led to the creation of Bridport and West Dorset Sports Trust Ltd in 1975, which was registered as a charity, and a lease of the squash courts was granted to the trust.

Around this time Tony Palmer had made known his wish to provide sporting facilities in Bridport. An indication was given by West Dorset District Council that planning permission would be granted for residential development on what is now Watton Park if the proceeds were utilised to provide leisure facilities.

Tony Palmer then transferred the undeveloped field to the trust as a charitable gift, the trust obtained planning permission and sold the land to a developer. The sale was completed in 1984.

In 1986 the dry side facilities were constructed and the Bridport and West Dorset Sports Trust Ltd ran the entire complex.

The Trust is a registered charity and continues to run the facilities for the benefit of the residents of Bridport and West Dorset and the visitors to the area. With generous support from Bridport Town Council and West Dorset District Council during the 1980’s and early 1990’s further dreams became realities.

In 1983, residents pressed for Bridport to have its own heated indoor swimming pool and created the group BACIT.

Members managed to raise £185,000 through a range of activities and events.

West Dorset District Council were also persuaded to help finance the building of a pool. Once it was completed it was handed over to the trust to be managed.

A formal opening by Sharron Davies MBE Olympic medal winner took place on the September 4, 1994.

Bridport Rugby Club completed the construction of the Pavilion attached to the south-eastern flank of the sports hall in 1993 and it is run by the trust as part of the leisure centre.

Bridport and West Dorset Sports Trust was gifted the Hyde Real Tennis Court at Walditch in 1995 by the late Joseph Gundry.

Cleeves Palmer had persuaded Joseph Gundry that the court could be saved if he were to leave it to the trust.

With the aid of grants and donations the courts were restored in January 1998.

On 13^th June 1998 the Hyde Real Tennis Court was officially opened by Prince Edward.

It is now operated by the Hyde Real Tennis Club.

November 1997 heralded the opening of the new and improved “Fitness Suite”. The Fitness Suite was partly funded with the aid of a successful Lottery grant and boasted an impressive range of cardio-vascular and resistance equipment.

The BACIT Studio was opened in January 1999, an aerobics/dance studio which also doubles up as a teaching /conference facility. As the name indicates this room takes its name from the committee who help to fundraise money for the swimming pool.

As part of the Trusts commitment to continuous advancement numerous service improvements have been made.  Vast changes to the dry side facilities have been made with thanks to Sport England who awarded the Trust with a substantial grant. In 2009 the Fitness Suite was extended and totally refurbished and modernised incorporating state of the art equipment.

In 2010 the re-development of the dry side changing facilities gave a plush modern feel to match that of the new fitness suite.

In addition to the customer changing areas the club changing rooms were also re-developed providing extra rooms for home and away teams.

In 2011 two new purpose built fitness studios were completed offering a dedicated studio for yoga, fitness classes and martial arts and an additional room to the Fitness Studio offering Kinesis resistance training and Spinning.

In 2012, the fitness suite at Bridport Leisure centre was improved and expanded and underwent an extensive refit in August 2017.

We hope you have enjoyed this step back in time. The history of Bridport Leisure Centre is to be continued…

Our more recent history includes how the centre managed the impact of Covid 19, the most recent upgrade of the fitness suite and the regrouting of the pool, bringing us up to date with the celebrations of our 50-year anniversary.

Watch this space for another trip down memory lane.

Join us at one of our fundraising events to help keep the timeline of Bridport Leisure Centre going strong!

HYROX Open Day Event: https://bridportleisure.com/50-years-of-bridport-leisure-centre/open-day-half-hyrox/

70’s Disco Fundraiser: https://bridportleisure.com/50-years-of-bridport-leisure-centre/70s-disco-fundraising-event/