Every year effigies of Guy Fawkes and Pope Paul V, who was the Pope at the time of the Gunpowder Plot, feature and in addition, each of the five main societies creates a topical tableau – usually, but not always, representing a human figure or figures. Cliffe Bonfire Society carries on pikes the heads of ‘enemies of bonfire’ who range from nationally reviled figures to local officials who have attempted to place restrictions on the event. Restrictions are generally ignored by the various bonfire societies. The event received more press attention than usual in 2001, when a 30-foot effigy of Osama bin Laden, was drawn through the streets. The image featured on the
front of some national newspapers. Seventeen burning crosses are carried through the town to mark the demise of the 17 martyrs during the reign of Queen Mary, – and a wreath laying ceremony occurs at the War Memorial (to remember the dead of two world wars) in the centre of town. A flaming tar barrel is also thrown into the River Ouse – which is said to symbolise the throwing of a magistrate into the river after he read the Riot Act to the bonfire boys in 1847. Local historian and author of the book Lewes Bonfire Night, Jim Etherington said: “The dangling of a local magistrate from Cliffe Bridge in the early 19th century is a lovely story, but undoubtedly apocryphal. I have read all the local papers for this period and there is no reference to such an incident although reports record local magistrates who attempted to quell what were then fairly riotous proceedings being manhandled by the crowd. “In 1847, Lord Chichester, Chairman of the Bench read the Riot Act, from what is now the Law Court steps, (County Hall in 1847), but he was not attacked by the crowd due to a very large presence of police including some brought down from London.”
Another possible better explanation is that Cliffe Bridge marks the traditional boundary between the Cliffe and Borough Societies. It may also be an echo of Samhain (a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest) traditions. Jim added: “A further explanation is that Cliffe Bridge marked the boundary between the Cliffe and Borough societies’ territory (the parish of Cliffe not being part of Lewes until 1881). Once societies were formed around 1853 there are reports of Cliffe and Borough meeting on the bridge to exchange fraternal greetings. “However, personally I think the best explanation for the ritual throwing in of the barrel arises from the practice of rolling blazing tar barrels through the streets by the bonfire boys. Prior to the formation of the societies this was one of the main activities of the bonfire boys (there were no torch-lit processions). Barrels were frequently rolled down School Hill and it is my opinion that their remains were disposed of over Cliffe Bridge into the Ouse.” The celebrations and fesivities culminate in five separate bonfire displays, where the effigies are destroyed by firework and flame.
Photo courtesey of Xavi Dom Buendia
the small but historic town attracts more than 80,000 people every year.
By Liza Laws
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