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The protests continued and in 1846 the local magistrate was knocked unconscious in a confrontation with the deliberately intimidating but causing no harm Bonfire Boys as he emerged from his house to warn them of arrest. The intention of the Bonfire Boys was to take-over the streets for one night and for the elite of the town to stay indoors. The Lewes establishment were outraged at this act of insubordination and in 'Observations on the Doings in Lewes of the 5th November 1846', printed anonymously in the [[Sussex Weekly Advertiser]] and liberal press, called for the working class to be oppressed and the Bonfire Boys locked-up. The tory press, particularly [[The Express Newspapers]] suggested to compromise on free speech that the festivities be moved to a site out of town. The Bonfire Boys refused to negotiate with the authorities and pledged to continue their protests. In the middle of the night before the following 5th November a confrontation between some Bonfire Boys rebel rousers and the local constabulary showed they were woefully outnumbered for what everyone thought was going to be the biggest and most riotous Bonfire night yet. The Lewes Police called-in re-enforcements from London and by the next day a Police line surrounded County Hall. There was a long stand-off and by nightfall mock battle commenced with fireworks being thrown and the Police pushing back the crowds. The magistrate and local landowner [[Henry Pelham, 3rd Earl of Chichester]] read the Riot Act on the steps of County Hall behind the Police line and the Police dispersed the crowds with violence. The next morning was eerily quiet but the Bonfire Boys were buoyed by being undefeated in taking on the London Police. That night the Bonfire Boys celebrated back on the streets of Lewes and similar Bonfire festivities spread to other places across East Sussex for the rest of November. So local Bonfire societies were born. The enemies of the uprising such as the Police, Courts and Sussex Advertiser were targeted for intimidation. In a prophetic report and with contrition the paper noted that 'it shouldn't be ordinarily termed a riot, but is the keeping up of tradition'. As proposed by the Express and to keep the tradition burning strong it was agreed by all in 1848 that Wallands Park become the site of the festivities.
The protests continued and in 1846 the local magistrate was knocked unconscious in a confrontation with the deliberately intimidating but causing no harm Bonfire Boys as he emerged from his house to warn them of arrest. The intention of the Bonfire Boys was to take-over the streets for one night and for the elite of the town to stay indoors. The Lewes establishment were outraged at this act of insubordination and in 'Observations on the Doings in Lewes of the 5th November 1846', printed anonymously in the [[Sussex Weekly Advertiser]] and liberal press, called for the working class to be oppressed and the Bonfire Boys locked-up. The tory press, particularly [[The Express Newspapers]] suggested to compromise on free speech that the festivities be moved to a site out of town. The Bonfire Boys refused to negotiate with the authorities and pledged to continue their protests. In the middle of the night before the following 5th November a confrontation between some Bonfire Boys rebel rousers and the local constabulary showed they were woefully outnumbered for what everyone thought was going to be the biggest and most riotous Bonfire night yet. The Lewes Police called-in re-enforcements from London and by the next day a Police line surrounded County Hall. There was a long stand-off and by nightfall mock battle commenced with fireworks being thrown and the Police pushing back the crowds. The magistrate and local landowner [[Henry Pelham, 3rd Earl of Chichester]] read the Riot Act on the steps of County Hall behind the Police line and the Police dispersed the crowds with violence. The next morning was eerily quiet but the Bonfire Boys were buoyed by being undefeated in taking on the London Police. That night the Bonfire Boys celebrated back on the streets of Lewes and similar Bonfire festivities spread to other places across East Sussex for the rest of November. So local Bonfire societies were born. The enemies of the uprising such as the Police, Courts and Sussex Advertiser were targeted for intimidation. In a prophetic report and with contrition the paper noted that 'it shouldn't be ordinarily termed a riot, but is the keeping up of tradition'. As proposed by the Express and to keep the tradition burning strong it was agreed by all in 1848 that Wallands Park become the site of the festivities.


However, in 1850 Lewes Bonfire festivities were influenced again. After the [[Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829]] in 1850 the Pope restored Catholic bishops in England including the new Archbishop of Westminster. There was an enormous public backlash and the meaning of Guy Fawkes night took on new vigour. In fury the Bonfire Boys burned an effigy of the Pope as well as Guy Fawkes, something that is unique to Lewes. New Bonfire Societies were formed where none existed and with an intensity not seen for a hundred years on numerous nights East Sussex burned with outrage with signs of No Popery Here. It must be noted that these signs were not connected with the [[No Popery]] march on Parliament. It was a phrase from history which had re-emerged, and whereas some local to Lewes may well have been in the Protestant association movement there is no evidence that the Bonfire Societies were involved, indeed they weren't created until a long time after. It is more likely to have been a sign to provoke others into joining them in general protest against authority, in this case and with irony, against Parliament which Guy Fawkes had tried to blow-up.
However, in 1850 Lewes Bonfire festivities were influenced again. After the [[Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829]] in 1850 the Pope restored Catholic bishops in England including the new Archbishop of Westminster. There was an enormous public backlash and the meaning of Guy Fawkes night took on new vigour. In fury the Bonfire Boys, never to be understated in their offence, burned an effigy of the Pope as well as Guy Fawkes, something that is unique to Lewes. New Bonfire Societies were formed where none existed and with an intensity not seen for a hundred years on numerous nights East Sussex burned with outrage with signs of No Popery Here. It must be noted that these signs were not connected with the [[No Popery]] march on Parliament. It was a phrase from history which had re-emerged, and whereas some local to Lewes may well have been in the Protestant association movement there is no evidence that the Bonfire Societies were involved, indeed they weren't created until a long time after. It is more likely to have been a sign to provoke others into joining them in general protest against authority, in this case and with irony, against Parliament which Guy Fawkes had tried to blow-up.


With the history of the [[Gordon Riots]] still in the mind of the authorities, the Police decided that 'forebearance on the part of the authorities is the better policy’. And so in Lewes, with the Police just watching, the Bonfire Boys marked the spot where the [[Lewes Martyrs]] had been burnt at the stake to widen support for the Bonfire movement. Out of this the tradition we know today was born and tacit permission was granted to make it a local custom so Lewes man could assert their liberties, whether as a protestant under a Catholic throne or as a free man of England. Later [[Mark Antony Lower]], an anti-Catholic propagandist and schoolmaster from Lewes, tried to hijack the notoriety of the Lewes Bonfire Boys incorporating the Lewes Protestant Martyrs into their festivities for his own gain. People who do that should be aware that the Bonfire Boys Wunt be Druv.
With the history of the [[Gordon Riots]] still in the mind of the authorities, the Police decided that 'forebearance on the part of the authorities is the better policy’. And so in Lewes, with the Police just watching, the Bonfire Boys marked the spot where the [[Lewes Martyrs]] had been burnt at the stake to widen support for the Bonfire movement. Out of this the tradition we know today was born and tacit permission was granted to make it a local custom so Lewes man could assert their liberties, whether as a protestant under a Catholic throne or as a free man of England. Later [[Mark Antony Lower]], an anti-Catholic propagandist and schoolmaster from Lewes, tried to hijack the notoriety of the Lewes Bonfire Boys incorporating the Lewes Protestant Martyrs into their festivities for his own gain. People who do that should be aware that the Bonfire Boys Wunt be Druv.

Revision as of 18:54, 7 November 2019

Members of the Lewes Borough Bonfire Society on Bonfire Night in Lewes, Sussex.

The Sussex Bonfire Societies are responsible for the series of bonfire festivals concentrated on central and eastern Sussex, with further festivals in parts of Surrey and Kent from September to November each year.

The celebrations mark both Guy Fawkes Night and the burning of 17 Protestant martyrs in Lewes's High Street from 1555 to 1557, during the reign of Mary Tudor.

Development

The Sussex Bonfire tradition is a uniquely local form of protest with several influences under the motto We wunt be druv.

Whereas Guy Fawkes night in most parts of Great Britain is traditionally commemorated at large public fireworks displays or small family bonfires, towns in Sussex and Kent hold huge gala events with fires, parades and festivals. The tradition has remained strong for more than a century becoming the highlight of the year for many towns and villages in the Weald. The Bonfire Societies use the events to collect money for local charities.

Guy Fawkes night was adopted by the early Lewes Bonfire gangs for convenience as this was the night that civil disobedience was tolerated when young men could let off steam which became riots. From the mid 18th century Guy Fawkes night celebrations began to take on an entirely different meaning as a rallying point to protest against authority, inequalities and for social justice. In 1785 the greatest riot perhaps ever known at Lewes began when a bonfire was started on School Hill in the centre of town. The Riot Act was read to the crowd which was extremely serious and the second battle of Lewes ensued between the state in the form of the Police and locals. Later many conscripted men returning from the Napoleonic Wars faced real hardship and added to this feeling of social injustice, forming themselves into gangs based around sea ports where they had connections and could operate with relative impunity. The French Marinière jumper was adopted as better equipment by the British sailors and as trophies of war. Additionally the Sailor suit was common dress for working class people at the time because of its ready availability at ports and as counter-fashion for the working class. It also provided cover for the gangs to operate as you could hide in plain site if other people are wearing the same thing. Different colour stripes differentiated the different gangs, much like is seen in their contemporaries Gangs of New York. Which is why the gang 'uniform' of the time is worn by the societies today.

Later still the disenfranchised workers became increasingly politicised by radicals like the Lewes local Tom Paine and bonfire gangs or 'boys' began to orgnaise, collecting subscriptions to finance them and building bonfires and burning effigies to show their dissent.

The radicals like Tom Paine began to form successful campaigns for political reform such as the Chartists and adopted lobbying and peaceful demonstration tactics and rejected those who continued with the street riots. Consequently there was a ban on assembly with burning torches and bonfires to quell the workers uprising. It was from this point that Guy Fawkes night became the special and local 'Bonfire' in Lewes as it adopted the right, nee duty, to have a bonfire and celebrate under the Observance of 5th November Act 1605.

The banning didnt stop the Bonfire celebrations in Lewes and they spread to other parts of East Sussex in uprising. From 1827 the Bonfire Boys became more organised and adopted blackfaces to prevent arrest. From 1832 blazing tar barrels were rolled down the narrow streets of the commercial and wealthy centre of Lewes with timber buildings on either side, openly threatening life and property of the ruling classes and elite. The Bonfire Boys showing their expert skills at working with fire from their trade or war they were followed by the Police all around the twisting streets of Lewes, cris-crossing different processions to foil and confuse the Police, but not stopped by the Police as they trusted the Bonfire Boys and their expertise but also that they had the equipment and knowledge to control and put out fire gained from their trades and at sea. In 1834 a huge bonfire was lit outside County Hall as the Bonfire Boys revelled in their untouchable status and was seen as reflecting the fracturing of society between the new liberal middle classes and haves, and the worker have nots.

The protests continued and in 1846 the local magistrate was knocked unconscious in a confrontation with the deliberately intimidating but causing no harm Bonfire Boys as he emerged from his house to warn them of arrest. The intention of the Bonfire Boys was to take-over the streets for one night and for the elite of the town to stay indoors. The Lewes establishment were outraged at this act of insubordination and in 'Observations on the Doings in Lewes of the 5th November 1846', printed anonymously in the Sussex Weekly Advertiser and liberal press, called for the working class to be oppressed and the Bonfire Boys locked-up. The tory press, particularly The Express Newspapers suggested to compromise on free speech that the festivities be moved to a site out of town. The Bonfire Boys refused to negotiate with the authorities and pledged to continue their protests. In the middle of the night before the following 5th November a confrontation between some Bonfire Boys rebel rousers and the local constabulary showed they were woefully outnumbered for what everyone thought was going to be the biggest and most riotous Bonfire night yet. The Lewes Police called-in re-enforcements from London and by the next day a Police line surrounded County Hall. There was a long stand-off and by nightfall mock battle commenced with fireworks being thrown and the Police pushing back the crowds. The magistrate and local landowner Henry Pelham, 3rd Earl of Chichester read the Riot Act on the steps of County Hall behind the Police line and the Police dispersed the crowds with violence. The next morning was eerily quiet but the Bonfire Boys were buoyed by being undefeated in taking on the London Police. That night the Bonfire Boys celebrated back on the streets of Lewes and similar Bonfire festivities spread to other places across East Sussex for the rest of November. So local Bonfire societies were born. The enemies of the uprising such as the Police, Courts and Sussex Advertiser were targeted for intimidation. In a prophetic report and with contrition the paper noted that 'it shouldn't be ordinarily termed a riot, but is the keeping up of tradition'. As proposed by the Express and to keep the tradition burning strong it was agreed by all in 1848 that Wallands Park become the site of the festivities.

However, in 1850 Lewes Bonfire festivities were influenced again. After the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 in 1850 the Pope restored Catholic bishops in England including the new Archbishop of Westminster. There was an enormous public backlash and the meaning of Guy Fawkes night took on new vigour. In fury the Bonfire Boys, never to be understated in their offence, burned an effigy of the Pope as well as Guy Fawkes, something that is unique to Lewes. New Bonfire Societies were formed where none existed and with an intensity not seen for a hundred years on numerous nights East Sussex burned with outrage with signs of No Popery Here. It must be noted that these signs were not connected with the No Popery march on Parliament. It was a phrase from history which had re-emerged, and whereas some local to Lewes may well have been in the Protestant association movement there is no evidence that the Bonfire Societies were involved, indeed they weren't created until a long time after. It is more likely to have been a sign to provoke others into joining them in general protest against authority, in this case and with irony, against Parliament which Guy Fawkes had tried to blow-up.

With the history of the Gordon Riots still in the mind of the authorities, the Police decided that 'forebearance on the part of the authorities is the better policy’. And so in Lewes, with the Police just watching, the Bonfire Boys marked the spot where the Lewes Martyrs had been burnt at the stake to widen support for the Bonfire movement. Out of this the tradition we know today was born and tacit permission was granted to make it a local custom so Lewes man could assert their liberties, whether as a protestant under a Catholic throne or as a free man of England. Later Mark Antony Lower, an anti-Catholic propagandist and schoolmaster from Lewes, tried to hijack the notoriety of the Lewes Bonfire Boys incorporating the Lewes Protestant Martyrs into their festivities for his own gain. People who do that should be aware that the Bonfire Boys Wunt be Druv.

Organisation

The logistical set up required for the events often starts as early as February. This has led the Societies to pool resources and work together on each other's bonfires. This creates associated processions, with large festivals like Lewes and Hastings going on late into the night. Due to the size and number of events and mutual collaboration, it became impractical to hold all the bonfires on the traditional Fifth of November. This resulted in the "bonfire season" to be extended over ten weeks through September, October and November.

The first Sussex Bonfire Societies' event starts with the Uckfield Carnival on the first Saturday of September and concludes with Hawkhurst and Barcombe festivals on the third Saturday of November.

The Mayfield bonfire celebrations commemorate two of the Lewes Martyrs who were from the village and four more martyrs that were executed in the village, on a site opposite the current Colkins Mill Church in Station Road, on 24 September 1556. A stone monument to the Martyrs stands in the church's grounds. Mayfield's torchlit procession and carnival takes place on the Saturday nearest to 24 September.

Societies and processions can be broadly grouped into two main categories Carnival and Bonfire. Typically and not exclusively certain characteristics apply to each group. Carnival societies are generally much more family-oriented evenings where people turn out to have fun and make merry with music and laughter. Bonfire Societies are often the less family-oriented evenings typically with more drinking and debauchment occurring. However with ever increasing restrictions by Sussex Police this is reduced.

List of Bonfire Societies

Members of the Cliffe Bonfire Society drag burning tar barrels through the streets of Lewes as part of their Bonfire Night celebrations.

Defunct Bonfire Societies

  • Arundel Bonfire Boys Society
  • Bognor Bonfire Society
  • Brighton
    • Brighton Borough Bonfire Society
    • Brighton Bonfire Boys
  • Chichester Bonfire Society
  • Clapham and Patching Bonfire Club
  • Crawley Bonfire society
  • Eastbourne Old Town & Meads (boys) and Upperton & Southfields (girls) Bonfire Societies (circa 1980s) based at The Lamb in Eastbourne and incorporated with Waterloo BS and Commercial Square BS at The Lamb in Lewes
  • Five Ashes Bonfire Society
  • Hooe Bonfire Society
  • Horsham Bonfire Society
  • Lewes
    • Landport Bonfire Society
    • St Anne's Bonfire Society
  • Newhaven
    • Society based at the Blacksmiths Arms pub.
    • Society based at the Jolly Sailor pub.
    • Newhaven Carnival Society (which replaced the former two in 1902).
    • Frog and Duck Bonfire Society (Newhaven)
  • Ridgewood Bonfire Society (Uckfield)
  • Shoreham Bonfire Boys

See also

Bibliography

  • Dimmock, Matthew; Quinn, Paul; Hadfield, Andrew (2013). Art, Literature and Religion in Early Modern Sussex. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-1472405227. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)


References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g lewesbonfirecouncil.org.uk, accessed November 2009
  2. ^ "cliffebonfire.com". cliffebonfire.com. 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  3. ^ "c-s-b-s.co.uk". c-s-b-s.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  4. ^ "lewesboroughbonfire.co.uk". lewesboroughbonfire.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  5. ^ "njbs.co.uk". njbs.co.uk. 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  6. ^ "southstreetbonfiresociety.co.uk". southstreetbonfiresociety.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  7. ^ "southoverbs.com". southoverbs.com. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  8. ^ "waterloobonfire.co.uk". waterloobonfire.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  9. ^ "barcombebonfire.co.uk". barcombebonfire.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  10. ^ "battlebonfire.co.uk". battlebonfire.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  11. ^ "Bexhill Bonfire Society Facebook page". Bexhill Bonfire Society Facebook page.
  12. ^ "burgesshillbonfiresociety.co.uk". burgesshillbonfiresociety.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
  13. ^ "buxtedbonfiresociety.co.uk". buxtedbonfiresociety.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  14. ^ Chailey Bonfire Society (2013-01-27). "chaileybonfire.co.uk". chaileybonfire.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  15. ^ "chiddingfoldbonfire.org.uk". chiddingfoldbonfire.org.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  16. ^ [1] Archived September 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ [2]
  18. ^ eastbournebonfire.co.uk
  19. ^ [3] Archived April 4, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "esbs.org.uk". esbs.org.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  21. ^ "firlebonfire.com". firlebonfire.com. 2013-10-26. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  22. ^ "hailshambonfire.org.uk". hailshambonfire.org.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  23. ^ "Hastings Borough Bonfire Society". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  24. ^ "hawkhurst-gang-bonfire-society.org.uk". hawkhurst-gang-bonfire-society.org.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  25. ^ "heathfieldbonfiresociety.co.uk". heathfieldbonfiresociety.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  26. ^ [4] Archived December 10, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ "Robin Hood Bonfire Society, Icklesham". Users.globalnet.co.uk. 2000-11-05. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  28. ^ "lindfieldbonfiresociety.co.uk". lindfieldbonfiresociety.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  29. ^ "Littlehampton Bonfire Society". Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  30. ^ "Mayfield Bonfire Society". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  31. ^ "https://www.facebook.com/Newhavenbonfiresociety". https://www.facebook.com/Newhavenbonfiresociety. Retrieved 3 March 2017. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= and |title= (help)
  32. ^ "Newick Bonfire Society". Newick Bonfire Society. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  33. ^ "northiambonfiresociety.co.uk". northiambonfiresociety.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  34. ^ "robertsbridgebonfiresociety.com". robertsbridgebonfiresociety.com. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  35. ^ "ryebonfire.co.uk". ryebonfire.co.uk. 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  36. ^ Seaford Bonfire Society. "seafordbonfire.co.uk". seafordbonfire.co.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  37. ^ "shorehambonfire.co.uk". shorehambonfire.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  38. ^ www.pixelpuppet.co.uk/www.splashdesigncreative.co.uk. "Welcome to the South Heighton Bonfire Society". Southheighton.com. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
  39. ^ "uckfieldcarnival.co.uk". uckfieldcarnival.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
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