FOR 56 long days the women dressed as men, the dead were buried at night and the church used as a makeshift hospital as the townsfolk of Lyme Regis withstood the best efforts of 6,000 Royalist troops to force a surrender.

So steadfast and valiant were the burghers of Lyme in their fight to remain a Roundhead stronghold during the bitter civil war in 1644 that when the siege was lifted an act of Parliament was passed decreeing an annual national day of fasting and prayer on June 16 to commemorate the longest siege in that bloody conflict.

And on Tuesday night, the people of Lyme remembered their glorious past with a parade led by young drummers from the Lyme Regis Junior Band.

To add to the atmosphere members of the Taunton Re-enactment Society and the Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival committee dressed in period costume.

Both Mayor Michaela Ellis, and her escort Lt Col Robert Blake, aka siege celebration organiser Alan Vian, paid tribute to the courage of those early inhabitants.

Mr Vian said it was three years ago when the siege thanksgiving celebrations were revived. He reminded the audience of when it all began – on April 20, 1644 when the 6,000-strong Royalist force led by Prince Maurice attacked what was a staunch Parliamentary outpost defended by Col Were and Lt Col Blake.

They built walls of mud and stone and there were three forts in the town. Supplies were brought in by sea and the defenders had the prayers of the town’s legion of preachers. Those killed were laid to rest between 3am and 4am so as not to give heart to the enemy, he said.

St Michael’s Church was both hospital and rallying point.