Despite the chaos caused by the wintry weather, a series of popular historical events still managed to draw in the crowds.

The annual Crabchurch Conspiracy Commemoration Weekend took place last weekend, looking back on one of Dorset’s bloodiest secrets.

The weekend of events marked the anniversary of the Battle of Weymouth and the preceding Siege of Melcombe where more than 500 people died, many in just one night of savage conflict.

Sadly, organisers had to cancel the Crabchurch History Talks, which were due to take place on Friday evening, as speakers including Professor Ronald Hutton and novelist Kit Berry were unable to reach the venues due to the icy conditions.

However, events on the Saturday evening and Sunday went ahead, regardless of the snow.

On Saturday, popular local Celtic rock band The Dolmen took to the stage at the Centenary Club.

The band performed their album The Crabchurch Conspiracy, which includes lyrics written by event organiser Mark Vine.

He said: “The concert was absolutely brilliant - it was completely sold out. And the money we did manage to salvage we were able to donate to Grahame Knott of Deeper Dorset, our chosen local cause.”

Deeper Dorset discover and dive shipwrecks and aircraft wrecks off the Dorset coast in a bid to reclaim maritime heritage that would otherwise be lost.

Mr Vine said the £200 the events raised would hopefully buy Mr Knott enough fuel for a days exploration.

The Dolmen were supported by band Perkelt who, despite the weather, made it all the way to Weymouth from the Czech Republic.

“We actually had four people from Germany and Holland that also made it, including the band’s manager. It took two of them five hours to make it from Dorchester to Weymouth but they got here,” Mr Vine said.

On Sunday, a one-off play entitled Death is Not the Final Word was performed at the Old Town Hall. Written by Mr Vine and directed and produced by Jane McKell and Jon Dixon, the play saw characters from the Crabchurch Conspiracy appear as ghosts to tell their stories of the conflict.

Mr Vine said: “I thought with the weather we’d have one man and his dog turn up but we had between 60 and 70 people - it was absolutely full so that went as well as it could. It’s just a shame the history talks had to be cancelled.”

Mr Vine added, while tickets for the history talks had been cancelled, he planned to reorganise the events for the spring.

“As soon as I can agree a date with all the speakers we will reorganise the events,” he said.