1129:. They linked up with the sympathisers in the town, who wore white handkerchiefs on their arms and used the password "Crabchurch" to identify themselves. The incursion caught the Parliamentarian garrison by surprise, and successfully captured both the Chapel and Nothe forts. Recovering from their initial surprise, the Parliamentarians rallied and launched counter-attacks. The strength of the forts was such that despite their smaller numbers, the Royalists were able to hold them until the following day, when Dyve and the governor of Portland Castle, William Hastings, arrived with 1,500 men to clear out any resistance and garrison the town for the King. They also tried to assassinate Sydenham, but were unsuccessful – although Sydenham lost his brother Francis in the initial assault. This was known locally as the
71:
239:
1178:, but did not move to intervene in the internecine bombardment. On 27 February, Sydenham saw his chance, and captured a Royalist supply convoy on its way to Weymouth from Dorchester. When Dyve moved troops to recapture the convoy, the Parliamentarians stormed the bridge with 150 musketeers, taking the town, and eventually both the forts.
1104:
The regimental preacher, Peter Ince, said of the defences that "we were in as sweet a quiet and security as any garrison in the
Kingdom; no enemy near us but one at Portland, and that not very considerable, being but about 300 or 400 men". Matters were so peaceful that a meeting of the town council
1167:, and 100 cavalry under James Heane who had made their way through enemy lines and met up with Parliamentarians in Melcombe. In total, there were 1,200 Parliamentarians in Melcombe, facing against a numerically stronger, but less experienced and thus weaker force of 1,500 Royalists in Weymouth.
1108:
Within
Weymouth there remained Royalist sympathisers who had been plotting to deliver the town to the King's forces. They were led by Fabian Hodder, who recruited supporters to his cause by paying them £5. When Hodder was prepared to move, he had his wife, Anne, write a letter to Sir
1027:, for the Parliamentarians during the build-up to the fighting. Dorset was a relatively inconsequential county of itself; it had no large cities, did not have significant industry, and though it had the aforementioned ports, none were major naval or trading bases. The fighting in the
1054:
swept through the region in the summer of 1644, claiming most of
Somerset and Devon for parliament. He then over-stretched himself and was trapped in Cornwall, isolated from reinforcements. His army suffered a heavy defeat at the
1181:
Goring immediately marched down to retake the town with a combined force of 6,500 men - but the attack was repulsed by
Sydenham and Batten. Those royalists involved in the conspiracy were, for the main part, executed.
1083:, but the town itself had little in the way of serious fortifications. The town had previously been taken by the Royalists in August 1643, before being forced to surrender by the Earl of Essex in 1644.
1059:
in
September, and scattered back into Dorset, leaving only Plymouth and Taunton as significant Parliamentarian controlled towns in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. Within Dorset,
301:
1105:
at the end of
January 1645 was primarily concerned with the cleanliness of the town, and resolved that all the dirt in the streets should be piled up and removed.
1125:
At midnight on 9 February 1645, a small force of
Royalist soldiers were ferried across the narrow strait (where the Portland Bridge Road, A354 now crosses) from
1544:
1079:
Weymouth, although protected by earthworks and ditches, was generally undefendable against any serious effort to take it. The harbour was well-protected by
1499:
1428:
1031:
was described as having "disproportionate significance", and armies on both sides travelled through Dorset to reach the main areas of fighting around
294:
287:
1635:
1156:
21:
1004:
1630:
1645:
1533:
1171:
1051:
256:
1576:
1487:
1462:
1416:
777:
1650:
703:
514:
1038:
Control of the West
Country fluctuated. By the end of 1643, most of the area was under Royalist control; only
888:
754:
605:
421:
323:
991:
was divided in its loyalties; broadly speaking, the south of the county and the larger towns favoured the
857:
762:
728:
638:
599:
335:
906:
877:
439:
385:
375:
916:
767:
723:
693:
549:
499:
494:
1640:
748:
743:
589:
70:
1475:
The
Concise Encyclopedia of the Revolutions and Wars of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1639–1660
984:
947:
872:
837:
579:
554:
524:
504:
479:
449:
429:
380:
355:
311:
62:
852:
698:
683:
564:
534:
474:
464:
444:
405:
400:
390:
360:
350:
1056:
995:, while those in the countryside and the north of the county were more likely to support the
896:
862:
842:
817:
713:
678:
633:
623:
574:
569:
1140:
1087:
was appointed governor, and took his
Regiment of Foot to garrison the town. By the autumn,
967:
921:
901:
867:
718:
544:
489:
330:
8:
653:
539:
529:
519:
454:
415:
395:
370:
340:
1175:
926:
822:
787:
708:
688:
643:
618:
613:
509:
484:
459:
410:
365:
1606:
1572:
1529:
1483:
1458:
1412:
832:
827:
792:
782:
738:
559:
345:
1594:
1504:
1479:
1433:
1084:
1080:
1068:
1012:
955:
847:
812:
807:
733:
663:
628:
594:
469:
151:
96:
1516:
1445:
1091:
and Chapel Fort had been constructed, along with more earthworks around the town.
1545:"The Siege of Lyme Regis – what inspired inhabitants to fight the Royalists"
1473:
1126:
1024:
1020:
911:
882:
797:
673:
668:
648:
584:
434:
1437:
1160:
1136:
959:
802:
1508:
1135:
The defending Parliamentarians, under William Sydenham, took refuge in nearby
1624:
1610:
1144:
658:
36:
23:
1569:
The Crabchurch Conspiracy 1645: The true story of Dorset's bloodiest secret
1028:
279:
1000:
1110:
1088:
1060:
1047:
1016:
992:
144:
1114:
1008:
996:
1599:
Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club
1143:. The two sides began to bombard each other from across what is now
1039:
951:
238:
1552:
1595:"Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in the Time of the Great Civil War"
1497:
Morrill, John (2008) . "Devereux, Robert, third earl of Essex".
1155:
In order to retake Weymouth, Parliament dispatched the warship
1139:, which was at the time only connected to Weymouth proper by a
988:
963:
966:
coast conspired to deliver the ports back into the control of
1387:
1385:
1383:
1314:
1312:
1310:
1308:
1306:
1304:
1302:
1164:
1064:
1043:
1032:
1358:
1356:
1380:
1299:
1368:
1353:
1117:. The letter was delivered by Elizabeth Wall, a widow.
978:
1605:. Dorchester: Dorset County Chronicle Printing Works.
1341:
1287:
1239:
1215:
1191:
1331:
1329:
1327:
1227:
1275:
1263:
1251:
1622:
1324:
1203:
1409:Cassell's Battlefields of Britain and Ireland
295:
220:Weymouth was regained by the Parliamentarians
1503:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
1432:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
1471:
1426:Cust, Richard (2004). "Erle , Sir Walter".
1391:
1318:
309:
1035:, fighting and plundering as they did so.
302:
288:
16:Battle during the First English Civil War
1542:
1500:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
1496:
1452:
1429:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
1374:
1362:
1347:
1293:
1269:
1257:
1233:
1221:
1197:
1623:
1523:
1406:
1281:
1245:
1071:remained under parliamentary command.
1586:
1411:. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
283:
75:RAFA Club with an embedded cannonball
1566:
1425:
1335:
1209:
979:State of the war in the West Country
1170:A 4,500-strong Royalist army under
180:Part of the First English Civil War
13:
954:plotters within the twin towns of
117:Weymouth was lost to the Royalists
14:
1662:
1636:Battles of the English Civil Wars
1455:Dorset in the Civil War 1625–1665
1543:Moseley, Sophia (18 June 2015).
1472:Manganiello, Stephen C. (2004).
1150:
237:
69:
1526:The Sieges of Taunton 1644–1645
1094:
1050:held out against them, but the
1:
1400:
973:
946:occurred in 1645, during the
1517:UK public library membership
1446:UK public library membership
1185:
1011:views, secured the ports of
7:
1631:History of Weymouth, Dorset
1593:Bowles Barrett, W. (1910).
1553:Archant Community Media Ltd
1074:
56:(The Crabchurch Conspiracy)
10:
1667:
1646:Military history of Dorset
1457:. Tiverton: Dorset Books.
1099:
1528:. Bristol: Stuart Press.
1120:
321:
265:
246:
228:
184:
179:
175:Second Battle of Weymouth
174:
157:
138:
125:
79:
68:
60:
53:
1407:Brooks, Richard (2005).
1163:, with 200 sailors from
54:First Battle of Weymouth
1524:Morris, Robert (1995).
1482:: The Scarecrow Press.
985:First English Civil War
983:At the outbreak of the
948:First English Civil War
313:First English Civil War
210:Parliamentarian victory
63:First English Civil War
1651:17th century in Dorset
1438:10.1093/ref:odnb/37399
1131:Crabchurch Conspiracy.
247:Commanders and leaders
139:Commanders and leaders
1509:10.1093/ref:odnb/7566
1453:Goodwin, Tim (1996).
1147:and the old harbour.
1057:Battle of Lostwithiel
944:Crabchurch Conspiracy
704:Gunnislake New Bridge
1174:was based in nearby
1157:Constant Reformation
1005:Member of Parliament
1567:Vine, Mark (2013).
942:and the associated
33: /
1587:General references
940:Battle of Weymouth
778:Scarborough Castle
580:2nd Wardour Castle
480:1st Wardour Castle
37:50.6075°N 2.4553°W
1515:(Subscription or
1444:(Subscription or
935:
934:
858:Sherburn in Elmet
729:Montgomery Castle
639:Stourbridge Heath
278:
277:
224:
223:
170:
169:
121:
120:
1658:
1614:
1582:
1563:
1561:
1559:
1539:
1520:
1512:
1493:
1480:Lanham, Maryland
1468:
1449:
1441:
1422:
1395:
1392:Manganiello 2004
1389:
1378:
1377:, p. 60–61.
1372:
1366:
1365:, p. 90–91.
1360:
1351:
1345:
1339:
1333:
1322:
1319:Manganiello 2004
1316:
1297:
1291:
1285:
1279:
1273:
1267:
1261:
1255:
1249:
1243:
1237:
1231:
1225:
1219:
1213:
1207:
1201:
1195:
1085:William Sydenham
1081:Sandsfoot Castle
993:Parliamentarians
907:Stow-on-the-Wold
863:3rd Basing House
818:2nd Lathom House
768:High Ercall Hall
679:2nd Basing House
624:1st Lathom House
570:1st Basing House
316:
314:
304:
297:
290:
281:
280:
261:William Sydenham
242:Parliamentarians
241:
201:Weymouth, Dorset
192:27 February 1645
186:
185:
172:
171:
152:William Sydenham
148:William Hastings
134:Parliamentarians
107:Royalist victory
97:Weymouth, Dorset
81:
80:
73:
51:
50:
48:
47:
45:
44:
43:
42:50.6075; -2.4553
38:
34:
31:
30:
29:
26:
1666:
1665:
1661:
1660:
1659:
1657:
1656:
1655:
1641:1645 in England
1621:
1620:
1618:
1592:
1589:
1579:
1557:
1555:
1549:Dorset Magazine
1536:
1514:
1490:
1465:
1443:
1419:
1403:
1398:
1390:
1381:
1373:
1369:
1361:
1354:
1346:
1342:
1334:
1325:
1317:
1300:
1292:
1288:
1280:
1276:
1268:
1264:
1256:
1252:
1244:
1240:
1232:
1228:
1220:
1216:
1208:
1204:
1196:
1192:
1188:
1153:
1127:Portland Castle
1123:
1102:
1097:
1077:
1025:Portland Castle
981:
976:
950:, when several
936:
931:
694:Cropredy Bridge
550:Aldbourne Chase
500:Chalgrove Field
317:
312:
310:
308:
255:
253:
216:
202:
147:
113:
99:
87:9 February 1645
74:
55:
41:
39:
35:
32:
27:
24:
22:
20:
19:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1664:
1654:
1653:
1648:
1643:
1638:
1633:
1616:
1615:
1588:
1585:
1584:
1583:
1577:
1564:
1540:
1535:978-1858040578
1534:
1521:
1494:
1488:
1469:
1463:
1450:
1423:
1417:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1396:
1394:, p. 575.
1379:
1367:
1352:
1340:
1323:
1321:, p. 574.
1298:
1286:
1274:
1262:
1250:
1248:, p. 380.
1238:
1226:
1214:
1202:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1161:William Batten
1152:
1149:
1122:
1119:
1101:
1098:
1096:
1093:
1076:
1073:
980:
977:
975:
972:
968:King Charles I
933:
932:
930:
929:
924:
919:
914:
909:
904:
899:
886:
885:
880:
878:Shelford House
875:
870:
865:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
815:
810:
805:
800:
795:
790:
785:
780:
775:
770:
765:
752:
751:
746:
741:
736:
731:
726:
721:
716:
711:
706:
701:
696:
691:
686:
681:
676:
671:
666:
661:
656:
651:
646:
641:
636:
631:
626:
621:
616:
603:
602:
600:2nd Middlewich
597:
592:
590:Bramber Bridge
587:
582:
577:
572:
567:
562:
557:
552:
547:
542:
537:
532:
527:
522:
517:
512:
507:
502:
497:
492:
487:
482:
477:
472:
467:
462:
457:
452:
447:
442:
440:1st Middlewich
437:
432:
419:
418:
413:
408:
403:
398:
393:
388:
386:Farnham Castle
383:
378:
373:
368:
363:
358:
353:
348:
343:
338:
336:Marshall's Elm
333:
322:
319:
318:
307:
306:
299:
292:
284:
276:
275:
272:
268:
267:
263:
262:
259:
249:
248:
244:
243:
235:
231:
230:
226:
225:
222:
221:
218:
212:
211:
208:
204:
203:
200:
198:
194:
193:
190:
182:
181:
177:
176:
168:
167:
164:
160:
159:
155:
154:
149:
141:
140:
136:
135:
132:
128:
127:
123:
122:
119:
118:
115:
109:
108:
105:
101:
100:
95:
93:
89:
88:
85:
77:
76:
66:
65:
58:
57:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1663:
1652:
1649:
1647:
1644:
1642:
1639:
1637:
1634:
1632:
1629:
1628:
1626:
1619:
1612:
1608:
1604:
1600:
1596:
1591:
1590:
1580:
1578:9780992783501
1574:
1570:
1565:
1554:
1550:
1546:
1541:
1537:
1531:
1527:
1522:
1518:
1510:
1506:
1502:
1501:
1495:
1491:
1489:0-8108-5100-8
1485:
1481:
1477:
1476:
1470:
1466:
1464:1-871164-26-5
1460:
1456:
1451:
1447:
1439:
1435:
1431:
1430:
1424:
1420:
1418:0-304-36333-2
1414:
1410:
1405:
1404:
1393:
1388:
1386:
1384:
1376:
1371:
1364:
1359:
1357:
1350:, p. 90.
1349:
1344:
1337:
1332:
1330:
1328:
1320:
1315:
1313:
1311:
1309:
1307:
1305:
1303:
1296:, p. 66.
1295:
1290:
1283:
1278:
1271:
1266:
1259:
1254:
1247:
1242:
1235:
1230:
1224:, p. 36.
1223:
1218:
1211:
1206:
1200:, p. 31.
1199:
1194:
1190:
1183:
1179:
1177:
1173:
1168:
1166:
1162:
1158:
1151:Second battle
1148:
1146:
1145:Radipole Lake
1142:
1138:
1133:
1132:
1128:
1118:
1116:
1112:
1106:
1092:
1090:
1086:
1082:
1072:
1070:
1066:
1062:
1058:
1053:
1052:Earl of Essex
1049:
1045:
1041:
1036:
1034:
1030:
1026:
1023:, along with
1022:
1018:
1014:
1010:
1006:
1002:
998:
994:
990:
986:
971:
969:
965:
961:
957:
953:
949:
945:
941:
928:
927:2nd Worcester
925:
923:
920:
918:
915:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
898:
895:
894:
893:
892:
891:
884:
881:
879:
876:
874:
873:Denbigh Green
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
786:
784:
781:
779:
776:
774:
771:
769:
766:
764:
761:
760:
759:
758:
757:
750:
747:
745:
742:
740:
737:
735:
732:
730:
727:
725:
722:
720:
717:
715:
712:
710:
707:
705:
702:
700:
697:
695:
692:
690:
687:
685:
682:
680:
677:
675:
672:
670:
667:
665:
662:
660:
657:
655:
652:
650:
647:
645:
642:
640:
637:
635:
632:
630:
627:
625:
622:
620:
617:
615:
612:
611:
610:
609:
608:
601:
598:
596:
593:
591:
588:
586:
583:
581:
578:
576:
573:
571:
568:
566:
563:
561:
558:
556:
553:
551:
548:
546:
543:
541:
538:
536:
533:
531:
528:
526:
525:Roundway Down
523:
521:
518:
516:
515:Burton Bridge
513:
511:
508:
506:
505:Adwalton Moor
503:
501:
498:
496:
495:1st Worcester
493:
491:
488:
486:
483:
481:
478:
476:
473:
471:
468:
466:
463:
461:
458:
456:
453:
451:
450:Seacroft Moor
448:
446:
443:
441:
438:
436:
433:
431:
430:Braddock Down
428:
427:
426:
425:
424:
417:
414:
412:
409:
407:
404:
402:
399:
397:
394:
392:
389:
387:
384:
382:
381:Turnham Green
379:
377:
374:
372:
369:
367:
364:
362:
359:
357:
356:Powick Bridge
354:
352:
349:
347:
344:
342:
339:
337:
334:
332:
329:
328:
327:
326:
320:
315:
305:
300:
298:
293:
291:
286:
285:
282:
273:
270:
269:
264:
260:
258:
251:
250:
245:
240:
236:
233:
232:
227:
219:
214:
213:
209:
206:
205:
199:
196:
195:
191:
188:
187:
183:
178:
173:
165:
162:
161:
156:
153:
150:
146:
143:
142:
137:
133:
130:
129:
124:
116:
111:
110:
106:
103:
102:
98:
94:
91:
90:
86:
83:
82:
78:
72:
67:
64:
59:
52:
49:
46:
1617:
1602:
1598:
1571:. Sherrens.
1568:
1558:25 September
1556:. Retrieved
1548:
1525:
1498:
1474:
1454:
1427:
1408:
1375:Goodwin 1996
1370:
1363:Goodwin 1996
1348:Goodwin 1996
1343:
1294:Goodwin 1996
1289:
1284:, p. 5.
1277:
1270:Morrill 2008
1265:
1258:Moseley 2015
1253:
1241:
1236:, p. 1.
1234:Goodwin 1996
1229:
1222:Goodwin 1996
1217:
1205:
1198:Goodwin 1996
1193:
1180:
1169:
1154:
1134:
1130:
1124:
1107:
1103:
1095:First battle
1078:
1037:
1029:West Country
1007:with strong
982:
943:
939:
937:
917:2nd Aberdeen
889:
887:
853:Rowton Heath
772:
755:
753:
724:1st Aberdeen
699:Marston Moor
684:Tipton Green
606:
604:
565:Olney Bridge
535:Gainsborough
510:2nd Bradford
475:Sourton Down
465:Ripple Field
445:Hopton Heath
422:
420:
411:1st Bradford
406:Muster Green
391:Piercebridge
361:Kings Norton
351:Babylon Hill
324:
229:Belligerents
126:Belligerents
61:Part of The
18:
1282:Morris 1995
1246:Brooks 2005
1172:Lord Goring
1001:Walter Erle
999:cause. Sir
897:Bovey Heath
848:2nd Chester
843:Philiphaugh
838:2nd Bristol
793:3rd Taunton
783:2nd Taunton
749:2nd Newbury
739:1st Taunton
734:1st Chester
714:Lostwithiel
634:Boldon Hill
575:Heptonstall
555:1st Newbury
530:1st Bristol
257:Lord Goring
254:James Heane
215:Territorial
112:Territorial
40: /
1625:Categories
1519:required.)
1448:required.)
1401:References
1176:Dorchester
1141:drawbridge
1111:Lewis Dyve
1089:Nothe Fort
1061:Lyme Regis
1048:Lyme Regis
1017:Lyme Regis
1003:, a local
974:Background
922:Lagganmore
912:3rd Oxford
902:Torrington
868:Annan Moor
798:2nd Oxford
763:Inverlochy
719:Tippermuir
669:1st Oxford
654:Lyme Regis
540:Gloucester
416:Chichester
401:1st Exeter
341:Portsmouth
252:Lewis Dyve
145:Lewis Dyve
25:50°36′27″N
1611:223643405
1336:Vine 2013
1210:Cust 2004
1186:Citations
1115:Sherborne
1009:Calvinist
987:in 1642,
803:Leicester
619:Newcastle
520:Lansdowne
490:Wakefield
460:Lichfield
455:Camp Hill
396:Tadcaster
376:Brentford
371:Aylesbury
234:Royalists
131:Royalists
28:2°27′19″W
1137:Melcombe
1075:Weymouth
1069:Weymouth
1040:Plymouth
1013:Weymouth
997:Royalist
960:Melcombe
956:Weymouth
952:royalist
828:Hereford
823:Langport
788:Auldearn
773:Weymouth
744:Carlisle
709:Ormskirk
689:Oswestry
644:Cheriton
614:Nantwich
545:2nd Hull
485:Stratton
366:Edgehill
346:Plymouth
331:1st Hull
266:Strength
197:Location
158:Strength
92:Location
1100:Prelude
1021:Wareham
962:on the
833:Kilsyth
664:Lincoln
595:Arundel
560:Winceby
470:Reading
217:changes
114:changes
1609:
1575:
1532:
1513:
1486:
1461:
1442:
1415:
1159:under
1121:Battle
989:Dorset
964:Dorset
883:Newark
813:Alford
808:Naseby
674:Bolton
629:Newark
207:Result
104:Result
1165:Poole
1065:Poole
1044:Poole
1033:Devon
649:Selby
585:Alton
435:Leeds
274:1,200
271:6,500
166:1,200
163:1,500
1607:OCLC
1573:ISBN
1560:2019
1530:ISBN
1484:ISBN
1459:ISBN
1413:ISBN
1067:and
1046:and
1019:and
958:and
938:The
890:1646
756:1645
659:York
607:1644
423:1643
325:1642
189:Date
84:Date
1505:doi
1434:doi
1113:in
970:.
1627::
1603:31
1601:.
1597:.
1551:.
1547:.
1478:.
1382:^
1355:^
1326:^
1301:^
1063:,
1042:,
1015:,
1613:.
1581:.
1562:.
1538:.
1511:.
1507::
1492:.
1467:.
1440:.
1436::
1421:.
1338:.
1272:.
1260:.
1212:.
303:e
296:t
289:v
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
