Thomas Tuffin

   The Clubmen of Dorset

Author: Brian Tompkins
Every one knows that the English Civil war was fought between King and Par liament, but the largest battle in Dorset, (some of the sieges involved mo re men), was not fought between Cavaliers and Roundheads. It occurred in 1 645 when a force from Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army, numerically outnum bered by some 4 to 1, did battle with the Dorset Clubmen a little known th ird force which owed no allegiance to either side.
The Clubmen were countryfolk who resented the 'un-natural' Civil War and h ad grown weary of the battles between Cavaliers and Roundheads, and the de predations of the soldiers of both sides which damaged their lands and rui ned the crops. Few of them knew the merits of the quarrel between King a nd Parliament but, armed with clubs, (from which came their name), pitchfo rks and scythe blades, this motley collection of yeomen and farmers took i ssue with both sides. Often generalled by clergy, they took a battering wh erever they defended their land. Their only uniform was a white cockcade a nd their banners were inscribed with the motto
'If you offer to plunder or take our cattle,
be assured we will bid you battle'.
Although they came from all the surrounding counties the Clubmen were part icularly strong in Dorset and after having been harried by Oliver Cromwe ll some 2-4000 of them became entrenched on Hambledon Hill in August 164 5. It was here that they made their last stand led by the Rev. Bravel of C ompton Abbas. Against them was Cromwells army of about 1000 men, fresh fr om the siege of Sherborne Castle and which had earlier surrounded the to wn of Shaftesbury and capture about 50 of the clubmens leaders who were ho lding a meeting there. Cromwell attacked from the rear and the clubmen we re routed. Most fled, and some it is said, escaped by sliding down the hi ll on their bottoms, amongst them 4 clergy.
At the end of the battle when Cromwell sent 50 dragoons to drag the remain ing Clubmen from the hill, it was probably as comic a battle as the reenac tment by villagers carried out when Princess Marie Louise visited Shrot on in 1951. Cromwell's dragoons easily overcame them and chased some 4 00 of them down the slopes to be locked up overnight in the village chur ch of St. Mary's. Next day Oliver Cromwell decided that they were 'poor si lly creatures' and after lecturing them allowed their release.
Other than this final stand, very little detail is known about the Clubm en or their leaders. It is known that prior to the battle on Hambledon Hi ll they had gathered at Badbury Rings. and that one of their leaders was R ichard Newman , a member of the Newman family of Fifehead Magdalen.