Gunpowder Treason & Plot
Remember, Remember the fifth of November
So who would have thought four
hundred years ago, in 1605 a man called
Guy Fawkes and a group of plotters
would have made such an impact on
the Lewes Bonfire Celebrations (and
the country of course). This event in
Lewes not only marks the date of the
uncovering of the Gunpowder Plot, but
also commemorates the memory of the
seventeen Protestant martyrs.
Now let’s get back to Guy Fawkes. It
would seem that when Queen Elizabeth
I took to the throne of England she made
some laws against Roman Catholics, and
Guy Fawkes was one of a small group of
Catholics who felt that the government
was treating Roman Catholics unfairly.
They hoped that King James I would
change the laws, but he failed to do so,
which meant Catholics had to practise
their religion in secret. James also brought
in several other laws against the Catholics.
Of course all of this really angered Guy
Fawkes and he, along with a small group
of men, devised a simple plot - the next
time Parliament was opened by King
James I they would blow up James and
everyone with him using several barrels
of gunpowder. A house next door had a
cellar which went under the parliament
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building. Their plan seemed easy, by just
putting the gunpowder under the house
and lighting a fuse, BANG, James and
the house would be gone. Guy Fawkes
was given the job of keeping watch over
the barrels and was to light the fuse. But
he was never to carry out his mission
because on the morning of 5th November,
soldiers discovered Guy hidden in the
cellar and arrested him. Guy was taken
to the Tower of London, tortured and
questioned about the other plotters.
In celebration of his survival King James
I ordered the people of England should
have a great bonfire night on the night of
5th November.
Lewes Bonfire not only marks the
failure of the Gunpowder plot but also
commemorates the seventeen martyrs
who were burned in the High Street.
Some Bonfire Societies carry martyrs,
banners and seventeen burning
crosses. Also remembered are the
fallen soldiers by laying wreaths at the
Memorial in their honour.
November 5th holds great meaning for
the people of Lewes with the six main
Societies joined by others marching
through the town and narrow streets.
Did you know it is the biggest celebrated
5th November event in the world? It is
the biggest and the only proper bonfire
night left in the UK. The Societies
celebrations are in various parts of the
Town, all with their own processions,
traditions, costumes, fire sites and
firework displays.
So if you are visiting the Town of Lewes
then you will be sure to enjoy the evening.
And it will be like nothing you have ever
experienced before. People come in their
thousands from all parts of the world
to see the celebrations although the
celebrations have never been there for
the general public’s benefit and probably
never will be – they are solely for the
believers as a way of remembering history
and the Bonfire Boys. There is friendly
rivalry between all the Lewes Bonfire
Societies - a good thing in my mind as it
keeps the spirit of the Lewes Bonfire alive
but they are always there for each other in
times of need.
There is so much history in the town of
Lewes and much more to write about
but I will leave it here for now…until
next time.
By Vivien Barker
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