ONE of the darkest and most bloody episodes in the history of Weymouth is being commemorated with music, drama and a full-scale military re-enactment next month.

During the English Civil War, the Crabchurch Conspiracy was a Royalist plot hatched by one Fabian Hodder to bring Weymouth and Melcombe under control of the King’s forces.

It was a desperate and bloody battle, with both sides gaining the upper hand at various times.

But eventually the much smaller Roundhead army won the day under Colonel William Sydenham, whose brother Francis – ‘a real Errol Flynn character’ – died in the battle.

Every year in early February, Civil War re-enactors remember the battles with a march through Weymouth and a living history display at the Nothe Gardens and in Weymouth’s Old Town Hall.

This year, hundreds of people are expected to descend on the town from all over the country and the eminent historian Prof Ronald Hutton, head of history at Bristol University and one of the experts from television’s TimeTeam, will be giving a talk on the English Civil War and the Crabchurch Conspiracy.

After the lecture, Celtic rock legends The Dolmen will perform their album The Crabchurch Conspiracy, which will be narrated by Prof Hutton and Stonewylde author Kit Berry.

Historian Mark Vine, who wrote the book The Crabchurch Conspiracy on which the Dolmen CD is based, said: “This was a pivotal battle in the Civil War and is a massive part of Weymouth’s history, yet many people don’t seem to know about it.

“It was really important at the time but history has chosen, or been made to forget about it.

“If the Royalists had won and taken the port, they would have landed a huge French Catholic army.”

The weekend has been put together by the Guardians of the Old Town Hall and the Dolmen. It takes place on February 16 and 17.

Prof Hutton’s talk and the Dolmen gig is in the Bay Theatre at 7.30pm on February 16. Tickets are £12.50, available from Imagine Books in Weymouth, Dorchester Cycles and via PayPal.

If you are able to help with sponsorship, please emailsteve@weymoutholdtown hall.co.uk Proceeds will be donated towards the Weymouth Old Town Hall restoration project.