WEYMOUTH AND THE GREAT CIVIL WAR. 205 



and a large part of the nation behind it, on the other hand, and 

 which, ultimately, led to the Great Civil War and the Puritan 

 Revolution, are so well known, that I need not touch upon 

 that part of the subject. 



The war broke out in August, 1642, and continued until the 

 battle of Worcester, in 1651, that is to say, for a period of 

 nine years. The towns of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, 

 and the Island and Castle of Portland, were of great 

 importance, owing to their geographical position, especially 

 their nearness to the French coast.* 



THE FORTS. 



A fine Fourteenth century church, was, at the commence- 

 ment of the war, standing on the Chapelhaye, Weymouth, 

 and was reached by 70 steps from the street below. By its 

 commanding position, on the top of a precipitous cliff, 

 it was admirably adapted for a stronghold, and was speedily 

 converted by the Parliamentary troops into a fort called 

 " the Chapel Fort." As this fort commanded Melcombe 

 (which lay on low ground to the front), as also a part of the 

 harbour, it was, throughout the war, the key to the local 

 situation. Another fort was erected at the Nothe to command 

 the harbour and the bay. Platforms for artillery were set 

 up at both these forts. Earthworks were thrown up, some 

 at the then northern entrance to Melcombe Regis, and others 

 just a little north of the junction of St. Thomas Street with 

 Lower Bond Street, extending thence westwards probably 

 to the Backwater. Several drawbridges were built and 

 town gates erected, the positions of which are long since 

 forgotten. 



* Weymouth proper lies on the south side, and Melcombe Regis (the more 

 modern part of the Borough) on the North side of the harbour. 



