Monument record MWX5097 - Spanish Armada

In 1588, an engagement was fought off Portland Bill, Dorset.

The battle off Portland Bill, Dorset was the second engagement between the English fleet and the Spanish Armada. The Spanish fleet set out from Coruna, Spain, with 130 ships, with the aim of meeting up with more off the Spanish fleet from the Netherlands. The English fleet set out from Plymouth Sound and attacked the rear of the Armada fleet off Plymouth (first battle). There was another sharp engagement off Portland Bill, Dorset and off Dunnose Head, Isle of Wight. The Spanish fleet managed to anchor at Calais and eight English fireships were sent in, which threw the Spanish fleet into confusion, so that further vessels were lost. The decisive battle was off Gravelines, where more Spanish vessels were lost or badly damaged. The Spanish fleet then decided to retreat and return home through the North and the West of Ireland, whereby they fared disastrously. There are discrepancies about the dates of this event between the sources, due to the difference between the Julian Calander (in use in England) and the Gregorian Calander (in use in Spain) half state the date as the 3rd of August 1588 (Julian) and others state the date as the 23rd of July 1588 (Gregorian). (1) During the engagement off Portland Bill however, several of the biggest Spanish warships were rendered ineffective. (2)

Record last edited

Mar 1 2024 8:08PM