IN an aggressive act of retaliation Poole was burnt to the ground by a Spanish armada 600 years ago next September.

That act of hostility may not normally be regarded as a cause for celebration but plans are in hand for a sporting Poole in Flames festival in 2005.

"It's 1-1, honour is satisfied, and it was 600 years ago," said Poole's local history manager David Watkins, who formally restored civic relations with the Spanish town of Gijon two years ago.

He delivered then Mayor, Cllr Graham Mason's civic greetings to his female counterpart and research into the event has led him to reappraise an important archaeological find displayed in the Waterfront Museum.

Notorious Poole pirate Harry Paye sparked off the round of violence when he sacked and burnt Gijon in northern Spain around 1398, while licensed to carry pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.

In 1405 the Spanish took their revenge, with galleys from Santander plundering the South Coast, and when they came to the town of ''Arry Pay', sacking and burning it with much loss of life.

A colourful eyewitness account of the battle by Gutierre Diaz de Gamez, standard bearer of Don Pero Nino, tells of doors torn from houses to use as shields, and arrows "so thick upon the ground that no man could walk without treading on arrows in such numbers that they picked them up in handfuls".

Twenty years ago David carried out an archaeological dig at the old Poole Foundry site, uncovering ships' timbers dating from the early 15th century, covered in what he thought were ashes from the forges of mediaeval blacksmiths.

"Recent thinking indicates that after interpretation this may well have been residue of the Spanish attack on Poole in 1405," he said.

To cement friendly relations and whet Spanish interest, intrepid Poole publican Jim Kellaway set sail in his 28ft sloop Ondine of Dorset with friend Stuart Welford, retracing the voyage across the stormy Bay of Biscay.

A letter of support was sent by Mayor and Admiral of the Port, Cllr Les Burden.

They contacted the sports council in the town and are hoping to organise sporting links and races in Poole between oarsmen of the two towns.

"It was very maana-ish," said Jim, whose pub, the Blue Boar, was the Spanish consulate in Victorian times.

"But it would be great if we can get it going," he added.

First published: Sept 20