BattlefieldsDorset Coastal Muster 1539
Tudor

Dorset Coastal Muster 1539

1539
Dorset, England
Also known as: Henrician coastal muster Dorset 1539 · Dorset coast defence preparations 1539
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Dorset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Portland Castle initial garrison; coastal watches along Chesil Beach
VS
Victor
Henry VIII (crown)
Forces
Dorset county militia
Outcome
Dorset coastal muster ordered; Portland Castle commissioned; coastal watches along Chesil Beach and Portland established
The Battle

History & Significance

The 1539 Dorset coastal muster accompanied the commissioning of Portland Castle to guard the important roadstead at Portland Bill. Dorset had suffered heavily from French raiding throughout the Hundred Years War and the 1539 muster was the first systematic organisation of coastal defence in the county. Coastal watches were established at regular intervals from Poole to Lyme Regis.

Casualties & Losses

None recorded

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Dorset

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Dorset