Come to #Wimborne #Dorset next weekend and immerse yourself in the #C17th at this exciting free event held throughout the historic town with the ECWS. Lord Crawford's Cavaliers are confident the gates to #Poole will be opened by the traitor but "Which side are you on"?

Route. The Battle for Wimborne commences on Saturday 25th May at 11.30 with the arrival of the Royalist forces of King Charles led by Lord Crawford. #TheBattleForWimborne Bishop Bray ECWS facebook.com/permalink.php?…

This weekend sees "The Battle for Wimborne" with ECWS a free community event. Delighted with the response to my reading of His Majesties Commission of Array - levies flocked to enlist from #Wimborne #Dorset - now to take #Poole

Agreed... Clubmen and the Royalist Army. Looks suspiciously like Thomas Young. 🤔😉 Great to meet up with Bishop Bray as ever. #BattleForWimborne

Everything ready for the imminent long awaited return of an old friend.

Fabulous restoration work by April Johnson and the team at The Brick House Conservation. His Majesties back in his rightful place.

Does it come any better than this? I'm writing "Besieged and Betrayed" about the sieges of #CorfeCastle tomorrow I will be with my good friend Dr Martin Papworth National Trust Archaeology excavating the Sallyport through which the traitor Pitman betrayed the Castle. Do come and say hello.

Fresh from raising £5k at Wressle Castle for Yorkshire Air Ambulance do come and see ECWS at Corfe Castle - it's going to be a spectacular weekend in a fabulous location.

Its that time of year again, time to open my Headsman training school!

A very Happy Christmas to you all. #Christmas # Dorset

Once again the Kings Army ECWS will assemble this Sunday on The Mall at 11.00am to commemorate the vile bloodie Murder of His Majestie. I have the great honour to lead the wreath party, do come and say hello.

His Majestie awaiting the arrival of his army - they will be on The Mall at 11.00am tomorrow to "Remember" his horrid bloodie Murder @ec

"REMEMBER"

Snowdrops carpet Vespasians #Roman road built from Hamworthy #Poole harbour to #Wimborne #Dorset where he constructed the huge fort at Lake Gates before building this section to #Badburyrings. Spring is coming!

#OTD 1646 unbeknown to garrison Corfe Castle things were about to change for the worse. Col Cromwell (relative) led a disguised royalist party capturing #Wareham & the Governor Col Butler, then relieved Corfe which was being besieged. In this party was Lt Col Thomas Pitman!

#OTD 1646 short of food Corfe Castle Col Cromwell returns to #Wareham but Col Cooke who he had slipped past at #Blandford was waiting, taking him and many of his men prisoner, some escaping back to Corfe. Sadly the only Cromwell now commemorated at Corfe is the wrong one!

#OTD1646 Within 4 days of being relieved disaster strikes #Corfe prisoner Col Butler persuades Governor Lawrence who saved the castle in 1643 siege to defect and the two escape. We will never know why, but Butler in 1647 attested to this. Lawrence remained a Royalist supporter!

#OTD 1646 well known traitor Col Pitman betrays #CorfeCastle but he did not work alone. Corporal Richard Jones was pardoned for "hazard of his life" acting as the guide, then he was licenced to brew beer for soldiers sleighting Corfe, doing well he owned 3 local houses in 1664.

There can be no greater joy as a historian than to make a major discovery in your work after years of searching. I now believe that Col Pitman betrayer of Corfe Castle was from North Cadbury #Somerset and settled in Surrey County Jamestown Virg living well into his late 70's

This Friday 9.00pm on BBC2 Hidden Treasures of the National Trust the story of last summers dig led by good friend Dr Papworth National Trust Archaeology to try and discover the sallyport used by Col Pitman to betray Corfe no spoilers but shockingly you may see knees and a Bishop labouring!