The Mayor of Bridport recently spoke about his role and the history of the Town Hall to members of the Bothenhampton and Walditch Really Interesting Club.

The Really Interesting Club sees members gather once a month to do something 'really interesting'.

The members come up with the ideas themselves and take it in turns to take the lead. As a result, there is an endless range of diverse and interesting things to do – from crafting events to visits and walks.

The Mayor of Bridport, Cllr Ian Bark, said: "The Really Interesting Club were delightful and I was able to inform, enlighten and entertain them.

"Dressing one of the members in the mayor's robes and regalia was great fun and giving those present the opportunity to see close up the mayor and mayoress' chains of office, the ceremonial maces and the photographs of previous mayors was much appreciated."

Cllr Bark said the biggest surprise of the evening came when he told members that he was not mayor for Bothenhampton and Waldtich, which actually has its own, separate parish council – a common misconception in villages on the outskirts of Bridport.

Sharing some of the history of Bridport Town Hall, Cllr Bark added: "Did you know that the Town Hall sits on the site of St Andrew's Chapel, which was built some time before 1270? Sadly, there was a fire in 1782 which gutted the original chapel and market house. The present Town Hall building was constructed on the site in 1785/6 at a cost of £3,000.

"In 1925, the interior of town hall was redecorated to a design by Francis Newbery, who had been brought up in Bridport, and worked as a school teacher in the town and subsequently become the director of the Glasgow School of Art.

"The decoration included a mural of panels depicting the town. Occupying the central panel is a female figure who represents the town dressed in very particular shade of blue. Do you know why?"