POPULATION 1921 1931 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991

Bronze Age and Roman interments have been found within the boundaries of the town. Is first mention, as 'Waymuth occurs in a charter granted by King Athelstan in 938. Its first charter was obtained in 1252 making it a free borough and port.

Long-running commercial disputes with its neighbour, Melcombe Regis, led to the amalgamation of the towns, the new town being granted a charter by James I in 1616.

It stood for parliament during the Civil War and by the mid-18th century its importance had declined to that of a fishing village.

The town's fortunes as a port turned in the 19th century with the advent of trade with the Channel Isles and, in 1944, it was the principal embarcation point for the Allied invasion of Europe. Throughout the 19th and 20th century, the town became reliant on the tourist trade.