About

History of the old shipyard ESTATE

Welcome to The Old Shipyard Estate — a coastal residential estate with a proud maritime legacy and a quietly distinctive character. Set along the seafront in West Bay, Dorset, the estate occupies the site of a once-thriving shipyard that helped shape the town’s identity for over a century.

From the early 1800s to the early 1900s, West Bay — then known as Bridport Harbour — was home to a flourishing shipbuilding industry. More than 350 vessels were built here, including fishing boats, trading ships, and even the Speedy, a 200-foot clipper constructed in 1853 from teak and English oak. The shipyard once spanned 13 acres and included a sail loft, sawmill, ropewalk, smithy, and carpenter’s shop — a hive of industry that echoed with the sounds of craftsmanship and the scent of tar and timber.

By the 1960s, the shipyard had closed, and the site was redeveloped into residential blocks. A second phase of redevelopment in the 1990s brought further improvements, creating the estate we know today.

More about the ESTATE

The Old Shipyard Estate now comprises eight low-rise blocks and a total of 87 apartments, ranging from studios to two- and three-bedroom homes. These include:

Kingfisher Court – 17 units
Heron Court – 24 units
The Esplanade – 11 units across two sections (Nos. 1–3 and 4–11)
The Old Shipyard Centre – 30 units across West Wing, East Wing, and connecting blocks
West Point Beach Apartments – 1 unit
Lodge 1 & 2 – 2 units

The estate also includes 68 garages, communal parking areas, and shared gardens — all just steps from the beach and the South West Coast Path.

Facing the open sea and the wide Dorset skies, The Old Shipyard Estate offers residents a rare blend of coastal tranquillity and community spirit. On sunny days, neighbours gather in the gardens for coffee, conversation, or a shared lunch — a simple pleasure that reflects the warmth of life here. Whether it’s a wave on the footpath or a chat over the hedge, there’s a quiet friendliness that makes the estate feel like home.

The board is actively managing the estate’s maintenance and working through site-wide priorities to ensure its long-term strength, safety, and appeal. With careful planning and resident collaboration, the estate is evolving — and its future is bright.

We believe this site will once again become a landmark on the seafront: not just a place to live, but a place to be proud of. The Old Shipyard Estate is more than bricks and mortar — it’s a living legacy, and a community shaping its next chapter.