Toy Soldier Collector Magazine

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The Siege of Abbotsbury

Dorset local Stephen Green looks at the effect the English Civil War had on his area, and some new figures by Dorset Soldiers which represent the conflict

Most of my information for this article comes from: ‘Dorset in the Civil War’ by Tim Goodwin; A leaflet, ‘A brief history of St Nicholas Church, Abbotsbury’; ‘The Sydenham Trail’, an excellent article found on the web; and uniform detail from a book on the English Civil War by Philip Haythornthwaite, as well as various Osprey titles.

No great battles were fought in Dorset during the English Civil War, but nonetheless, the county had a very busy time with several major sieges.

Lyme Regis and Poole held out for Parliament, while Sherborne and Corfe Castle supported the King. Several other places changed hands periodically, including Dorchester, Weymouth and Wareham.

Armies from both sides marched through the county during the course of the war. Generally they behaved the same way, stealing crops and livestock, impressing the men and impregnating the women. None were really popular!

In fact a large group of peasantry (and some gentry) banded together to form the Dorset Clubmen. This effective local defence force was able to discourage both sides from their depredations, until finally quelled by Oliver Cromwell sometime after the war.

Most local gentry were split in their loyalty between the two major camps.

From the point of view of our story, Abbotsbury was held for the King by the Strangways family, while nearby Wynford Eagle was the property of the Sydenhams who were for Parliament. One of the Sydenhams was Colonel in charge of the Parliamentary garrison of Poole.

In November 1644, a force marched out from Poole with William and Francis Sydenham under the command of Anthony Ashley Cooper to take Abbotsbury. Ashley Cooper had once served the King.

James Strangways, the Royalist commander at Abbotsbury, refused to surrender to Cooper, the Parliamentarian commander, when the besiegers arrived. The refusal was couched in such terms that Cooper ordered no quarter should be given.

A group of 13 Royalist musketeers were driven from St Nicholas church by the Parliamentarian Captain Baynton. At this time at least two musket balls pierced the rear of the pulpit and the holes are still there today. (When I was there a little while ago I was told ‘a bloke is coming to fix the holes next week’, but in true Dorset time, next week seems to be a bit slow in coming!)

The main house belonging to Strangways was then besieged with musketeers and artillery. The house caught fire, and the weight of shot and musket fire drove the defenders upstairs. The fire followed them and screams from the wounded and roasting defenders were heard. They called for mercy, but Cooper, at the front of the building, refused.

The Sydenhams at the back were not so hard hearted, having little respect for the turncoat Cooper, so they helped those able to escape the burning building to safety. Considering that their mother had been murdered on the doorstep of their home at Wynford Eagle by Royalist cavalry only three months before, the humanity of the Sydenham brothers towards the Royalist garrison is remarkable.

As the Royalists escaped, several rampaging Parliamentary soldiers then rushed into the burning building to look for loot. Grateful Royalist prisoners warned them that the powder magazine was about to explode. Parliamentary Lieutenant Hill ran in to warn them. The looters took no notice and were taken to meet their maker in a fireball, which more or less reduced the house to rubble. One end wall is all that now remains.

The figures used to illustrate the article are (mostly) new from Dorset Soldiers.

Although pikemen did not appear to take any part in the siege, I have a postcard showing Parliamentary forces advancing on Abbotsbury. This card shows pikemen, musketeers, a drummer, a colour bearer with a flag bearing three goat’s heads, and a mounted officer.

I have no idea whether the flag is authentic or the general uniform colour of green is correct. It may be, or there again, it may be artistic licence; however, I have arrayed my Parliamentarians in green.

Although the New Model Army was generally being kitted out in red at this time, the rest of the regiments were still wearing whatever their colonel had managed to get for them. Unbleached wool, green, blue and purple were all worn by Parliamentary troops.

Arms available for the pikes allow for three different positions for the pikemen. The musketeers can be advancing or firing, with or without their rest. The figures used for the artillery can also double as pike variations, musketeers or musicians (a nice drum and fife band anyone?).

James Strangways is shown in red, with his fellow defenders in blue. We do not know if there was any uniformity amongst his men, but blue is a nice Royalist colour.

What applied to Parliament vis a vis uniform also applied to the King’s men.

Cavalry do not feature in this action, but a trooper from Parliament and another from the Royalists are shown to complete the picture. Trumpet, with and without banner, sword and wheel lock pistol arms are available for these two troopers.

Sets or single figures are available as castings or painted figures.

My figures were finished in gloss but they would also look good in matt. The figures can be used to depict any English Civil War battle or local action of your choice, in whatever uniform colours you feel are appropriate.

Although the house at Abbotsbury was gone, the estate was retuned to the Strangways family by Charles II on his restoration.

Ashley Cooper did very well for himself, becoming a privy councillor for Charles despite having changed sides. He founded the Whig party and died as Earl of Shaftesbury.

The only Sydenham to be recalled much by later history is a brother, Thomas, an ex-Parliamentary officer who became a famous surgeon.

Abbotsbury itself is a pleasant, mostly thatched village, dedicated to relieving the tourist of his/her hard earned cash in as nice a way as possible. Mostly famous for its swannery, there is also a sub tropical garden and St Catherine’s chapel looking out to sea, all still owned by descendants of the Strangways family. Also worth a visit, of course, is St Nicholas church in the centre of the village to see those musket holes which are no doubt still there!

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