Hambledon Hill - Battle of Hambledon Hill

Battle of Hambledon Hill

The Clubmen were a third force in the English Civil War, aligned to neither crown or parliament, they cared little for the issues but wished to protect their land from being despoiled by foraging troops of either side. They armed themselves with clubs and agricultural implements and gathered in large numbers to protect their fields, especially in Dorset. Between 2000 and 4000 of them encamped on Hambledon Hill in August 1645. The area had large numbers of Cromwells army at that time after the siege of Sherborne Castle. Cromwell ordered that the Clubmen be dispersed and his well equipped New Model Army soon drove them away on 4 August. The leaders were arrested but Cromwell sent most home saying they were 'poor silly creatures'.

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