Enemy at the Gates
In the English Civil War (1642-51) the town of Poole sided with Parliament while most of Dorset sided with King Charles I. Although Poole was at war with all its neighbours (whom they called 'malignants') the town was difficult to capture. Water surrounded it on three sides, and the navy had supported Parliament as well, keeping a warship moored nearby to prevent any attack from the sea.
On the north eastern side of town strong walls stretched across the narrow neck of land connecting Poole to the mainland. The only way through was by the Town Gate, and fortifications here prevented any direct attack by infantry.
In 1643, however, the Royalist forces came close to capturing Poole by treachery, bribing one of the militia captains to let them into the town in the middle of the night. Unfortunately for them, the captain was playing a game of double cross... The story of the attack and its aftermath are told in the audio below.