Lewes Bonfire
Lewes Bonfire, or Bonfire for short, describes a set of celebrations held in the town of Lewes, Sussex, England, that constitute the United Kingdom's largest and most famous Bonfire Night festivities,[1] with Lewes being called the bonfire capital of the world.[2]
Always held on 5 November (unless the 5th falls on a Sunday,
Lewes is home to the largest and most celebrated of the festivities in the Sussex bonfire tradition. There are seven societies putting on six separate processions and firework displays throughout Lewes on 5 November. As well as this, 25–30 societies from all around Sussex come to Lewes on the fifth to march the streets. This can mean up to 5,000 people taking part in the celebrations, and up to 80,000 spectators attending in the county market town with a population of just over 17,000.[4][5]
History
The history of bonfire celebrations on 5 November throughout the United Kingdom have their origins with the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, where a group of English Catholics, including the now infamous Guy Fawkes, were foiled in their plot to blow up the House of Lords.
The following January, an act entitled 'An Acte for a publique Thanksgiving to Almighty God ever year of the Fifth day of November' was passed, which held that 5 November should be held in perpetual remembrance of the plot, with a special service held in every Church of England parish church.[6]
Celebrations in Lewes were not planned or carried out annually, but were more random events that more closely resembled riots. They continued until they were banned by
There is a history of religious antagonism and anti-popery around the bonfire celebrations in Lewes.[9] In the 1930s the mayor of Lewes requested that 'no popery' banners be removed and an end to the burning of effigies of Pope Paul V.[10] In the 1950s the Cliffe Bonfire Society was banned from the Bonfire Council from taking part in the United Grand Procession for its refusal to stop carrying a 'no popery' banner and banners commemorating the 16th century Protestant martyrs burned at Lewes.[11] In 1981 Ian Paisley visited Lewes on Bonfire Night and tried to fan the flames of conflict by handing out anti-Catholic pamphlets. His intervention back-fired and the following year he was burned in effigy.[12] Today, anti-Catholic attitudes are rare and the militant Calvinism that continues in Northern Ireland is all but extinct in Lewes.[13] In the 21st century, controversy continues to be associated around the Bonfire societies and competing definitions of tradition and bigotry.[14] For instance, the burning in effigy of Pope Paul V was described in 2012 as "a scandalous piece of stone-cold bigotry".[15] In 2017 the Lewes Borough Bonfire Society agreed to end the tradition of blacking-up and wearing skulls and horns as part of its Zulu costumes.[16]
Event
To mark the demise of the
A number of large
The
Bonfire societies
Lewes has seven bonfire societies, whereas othertowns and villages in Sussex have a single bonfire society each, even large ones like
Cliffe
The Cliffe, founded in 1853, traditionally represents the Cliffe and Lansdown areas of Lewes (centred around Cliffe High Street), but recently they have also claimed the South Malling suburb with the addition of the "Malling Bonfire Society". Their smugglers' jumpers are black and white, and the pioneer fronts are
Commercial Square
Founded in 1855, they represent the St. John's area north of Lewes Castle, based on Commercial Square, which is where their headquarters, the Elephant and Castle pub, is based. The pioneers are Native Americans (this theme was picked after Lewesians visited the US in the 19th century and realised their hardships) and American Civil War soldiers, and the smugglers wear gold and black jumpers. The society also claims the Wallands Park and Landport suburbs. The local church is St John sub Castro.[28]
Lewes Borough
Lewes Borough is the joint oldest society with Cliffe, formed in 1853. Until 1859 they were known as the 'Lewes Town Bonfire Society' and have been marching the streets of the town for over 150 years. Boroughs First Pioneer Group is that of the celtic warrior and the Tudor era is the Society's Second Pioneer Group. Their jumpers are blue and white. In 1863 the famous Monster Iron Key of the Ancient Borough of Lewes weighing nearly a quarter hundredweight,(over 12 kilos) was carried in the procession for the first time. The same key is still carried today in the Borough's processions and is a symbol that on 5 November the 'Borough Boys' are given the freedom of the streets of Lewes. Representing the western half of Lewes and located on Western Road, their headquarters is St. Mary's Social Club, which unlike the others, is not a pub. The local church is
Southover
Southover has roots in the mid-19th century but it disbanded in 1985, and then reformed in 2005. It represents the Cranedown and St. Pancras areas as well as the old village of Southover. Located on Southover High Street, the local church is
South Street
South Street was formed in 1913 as a society for the children of members of the Cliffe; however, both Cliffe and South Street now accept members of all ages. Their jumpers are brown and cream, and their pioneers are (first) Colonial Period (mid-18th century) and (second) English Civil War (mid-17th century) soldiers. They are based on South Street and the small area to the west between it and the River Ouse, and their headquarters is The Snowdrop, South Street. Their firesite is on the Railway Land.[30]
Waterloo
Waterloo was reformed in 1954
Nevill Juvenile
Founded in 1967 specifically for children, Nevill has remained a juvenile society and represents the Nevill Estate. Their headquarters is St. Mary's Social Centre. They hold their celebrations a week or two before the other societies with help from those six. Their pioneers are Suffragettes,
See also
- Culture of Sussex
- Guy Fawkes night
- History of Christianity in Sussex
- Marian Persecutions
- Lewes Martyrs
- Richard Woodman
- We wunt be druv
Bibliography
- Flint, John; Kelly, John (2013). Bigotry, Football and Scotland. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0748670390.
- Goring, Jeremy (2003). Burn Holy Fire: Religion in Lewes since the Reformation. James Clarke and Co. ISBN 978-0718830403.
References
- ^ Times Writers (5 November 2009). "Tonight's the night: bonfires and fireworks". Times. London.
- ^ Jones, Lucy (2 November 2010). "Unusual places to go and watch fireworks". The Daily Telegraph. London.
They don't call Lewes the Bonfire capital of the world for nothing.
- ^ "The Lewes Societies". Lewes Bonfire Council. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
- ^ Hanna, Nick (8 October 2005). "Flaming passions". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
- ^ "Census 2001: Parish Headcounts: Lewes". Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ "History of Bonfire". Cliffe Bonfire Society.
- ^ Goring 2003, p. 157.
- ^ Goring 2003, p. 130
- ^ Flint & Kelly 2013, p. 89.
- ^ Flint & Kelly 2013, p. 89.
- ^ Flint & Kelly 2013, p. 89.
- ^ Goring 2003, p. 157.
- ^ Goring 2003, p. 157.
- ^ Flint & Kelly 2013, p. 89.
- ^ Meagher, Kevin (5 November 2012). "Bonfire Nightbigotry is alive and well in Lewes". Left Foot Forward. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Booth, Robert (5 November 2017). "Lewes bonfire society ends tradition of blacking-up". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- ^ "Cliffe Bonfire Society web site". Cliffebonfire.com. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
- ^ "Sussex Express Report 2001 – Lewes Bonfire Night Celebrations". Lewes Bonfire Celebrations.
Cliffe had him sitting on a lavatory in their main tableau. Borough produced him in effigy and Commercial Square displayed him in the 'flesh', walking in front of a hissing crowd in the united procession.
- ^ Helm, Toby (15 November 2003). "How tradition lit the fuse for gipsy effigy". The Daily Telegraph. London.
- ^ "Police investigate Alex Salmond bonfire effigy". BBC News. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ^ "Effigies of a naked David Cameron and Jeremy Clarkson burned at Lewes Bonfire". Daily Mirror. 5 November 2015.
- ^ "Ten Guy Fawkes celebrations". Daily Telegraph. London. 1 November 2008.
- ^ "Lewes bonfire travel information". Lewes and Eastbourne Councils. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ "Portek Ltd Banger Ropes". Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ^ "The Member Societies: Cliffe Bonfire Society". Lewes Bonfire Council. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
- ^ O'Dea, Sharon (4 November 2006). "Burning the Pope". flickr.
- ^ "Lewes Bonfire Night guide: What time do the processions and fireworks start and what is the history of the event?". Crawley News. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
Cliffe Bonfire Society still marches under the No Popery banner and they also burn the Pope. Not the current Pope, though, the Pope in 1605 – Paul V.
- ^ "The Member Societies: Commercial Square Bonfire Society". Lewes Bonfire Council. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
- ^ "The Member Societies: Lewes Borough Bonfire Society". Lewes Bonfire Council. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
- ^ "The Member Societies: South Street Bonfire Society". Lewes Bonfire Council. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
- ^ "The Member Societies: Waterloo Bonfire Society".
- ^ "The Member Societies: Waterloo Bonfire Society". Lewes Bonfire Council. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
- ^ "Nevill Juvenile Bonfire Society". Njbs.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "The Member Societies: Nevill Juvenile Bonfire Society". Lewes Bonfire Council. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
External links
- Media related to Lewes Bonfire at Wikimedia Commons