Welcome to LBBS 2008

Lewes Borough Bonfire Time-Line

1606 – Following the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot an Act of Parliament ‘for a publique Thanksgiving to Almighty God everie yeere on the fifth of November’ required the ringing of the church bells and the conducting of a service in every parish church in England. It may be assumed that Lewesians joyfully complied.

1679 – Following popular hysteria provoked by Titus Oates revelations, Pope burning processions were witnessed in London and Lewes.

1813 – The diary of the late John Holman (High Constable of Lewes) gives us our first glimpse of things to come by the entry ‘November 5^th Gunpowder Plot observed by the boys – a fire on Gallows Bank. Passed off without any particular accident.’

1829 – Celebrations take on a new character. The custom of dragging blazing tar-barrels through the streets was introduced and the use of fire balls became common.

1831 – In an effort to stop these dangerous practices, the magistrates issued cautions but the ‘boys’ displayed even greater energy.

1832 – An attempt to stop proceedings failed.

1838 – Great rioting took place with several arrests being made and fines of up to £15 were imposed. A local magistrate, Mr Whitfield J.P. had a sharp encounter with the ‘boys’ on Cliffe Bridge which led to the origins of throwing the blazing tar barrel in to the river.

1841 – Special constables were sworn in for another attempt to stop the celebrations on the 5^th. The bonfire boys armed themselves, which unfortunately led to more than twenty rioters being sent to prison for up to two months.

1842 – Proceedings were more orderly and a band of music was introduced for the first time.

1846 – Another attempt to clear the ‘boys’ from the streets led to more rioting and another magistrate, Mr Blackman J.P. being seriously injured.

1847 – One hundred and seventy of the ‘principal tradesmen’ and other ‘respectable inhabitants’ were summoned to be sworn in as special constables. On their way to a meeting on November 5^th they were attacked by bonfire boys in the High Street. Tar barrels were lit and many incidents occurred. The police formed a chain across Keere Street and some of the ‘boys’ were arrested. The next day one hundred of the A Division of the Metropolitan Constabulary arrived and the excitement in Lewes that evening was high. It was an incident involving a mail-gig from Brighton which brought things to a head. Lord Chichester read the Riot Act on the steps of County Hall and gave the crowd five minutes to disperse. In the free fight that ensured many of the Metropolitan Police were injured however the streets were eventually cleared.

1848 – A committee of local tradesmen was formed and arrangements were made to carry out celebrations on the Wallands.

1850 – The Pope’s proceedings led the townspeople to allow bonfire boys back on the streets where two great bonfires were lit, one in front of County Hall and the other in front of Cliffe Church.

1853 – The Lewes Bonfire Society’s procession is recorded in a painting (a photograph of which is reproduced on the front of this programme). The striped jerseys of the members are blue and white and officers are distinguished by a red sash (as they often are today). The Pig labelled ‘Peter the Papist’ relates to a Sussex newspaper proprietor of the day named Peter Bacon.

1859 – The formation of another society caused our name to be changed to the Lewes ‘Borough’ Bonfire Society.

1863 – The ‘Monster Iron Key of the Ancient Borough of Lewes’ was carried in the procession for the first time. This key (which weighs nearly a quarter of a hundredweight) is the symbol of ‘Bonfire Night’ giving the ‘Bonfire Boys’ the freedom of the town for one night. This key is still carried today. It was also noted that the Brighton Bonfire Boys joined the Borough in this year with a ‘new and splendid banner’.

1868 – A new banner ‘Borough Bonfire Boys’ was carried with the Society motto ‘Death or Glory’.

1874 – An epidemic of typhoid occurred in Lewes postponing the celebrations until December 31^st with a fall of snow adding greatly to the effect.

1881 – The ‘Monster Key’ was enlarged to fit the ‘New Corporation Lock’. This was to commemorate the incorporation of Cliffe and Soutover into the Borough of Lewes.

1895 – Two more societies form – St Annes and Southover.

1913 – Death of William Thomas Geering ‘Lord Bishop’ of the Society for nearly thirty years.

1921 – Celebrations resumed after the First World War.

1927 – Photograph of our tableaux ‘The World Destroyed’ was reproduced in the New York Herald and Tribune.

1945 – The Society played its part in the two victory celebrations and also celebrated the fifth.

1947 – As guests of Major Tufton Beamish MP for Lewes, members of the Society visited the House of Commons and for the first time the Bonfire Prayers were recited on the spot. Riots of 1847 were remembered on the fifth.

1950 – The Borough, Commercial Square, Southover and South Street unite in one Grand Procession.

1954 – A Blazing Key is carried for the first time in our procession.

1955 – The Borough was the first society to have their fire and proceedings filmed by the famous Walt Disney Film Company.

1958 – Bert Munt was made a life member of the Society however , he unfortunately passed away shortly afterwards.

1960 – Celebrations were cancelled due to bad flooding in the town. However the wreaths were still placed on the War Memorial.

1964 – Borough took a leading role in the Battle of Lewes celebrations and was solely responsible for the illumination of Cliffe Hills.

1967 – The Borough celebrations were recorded by Mr Bob Danvers-Walker on BBC Radio 4.

1971 – Borough won the Bonfire Council Cup. Commercial Square amalgamated with us at the fire.

1973 – The Society’s motto ‘Death or Glory’ was re-introduced in to the procession and the first torch lit procession in Europe – Blois, France took place.

1977 – The Borough led Her Majesty the Queen to light her Jubilee Beacon in the Great Park at Windsor.

1978 – Full-scale live television coverage took place by the BBC. The Borough wins the Pioneer Cup.

1979 – Borough led the procession to Buckingham Palace for the ‘Carols for the Queen’. Borough retained the Pioneer Cup.

1981 – Mr Edward (Ted) Over, one of Lewes’ much loved Bonfire Boys died following illness that prevented him from attending the bonfire celebrations for the first time in 35 years. He had been Pioneer Chief and Treasurer of the Society.

1986 – Borough took part in the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics at Brighton and was filmed on the fifth for German television.

1989 – Borough suffered the sad loss of our President, Dr Pat Nicholl. He was to be sadly missed.

1992 – The Police and Lewes District Council tried to impose a code of practice on the Bonfire Societies. If enforced it would have stopped the traditions that make Lewes Bonfire unique. The societies stood united to force the authorities to withdraw their proposals.

1993 – Borough won the First and Second Pioneer classes at the Bonfire Council Fancy Dress Competition.

1994 – Mr John Brooks ‘Lord Bishop of the Borough’ celebrated 30 years service.

1996 – Borough won the Ladies and Gents Pioneer Cups as well as Best Male and Female costumes of the evening.

1998 – A splendid new banner depicting the ‘Olde Borough Bonfire Boys’ was proudly carried for the first time.

2000 – Borough wins the Points Cup, Second Pioneer Cup, Ladies and Gents Pioneer Shields and Best Male and Female costumes at the Bonfire Council Fancy Dress Competition.

2001 – Mr Eric Winter, life member and former President and Chairman of the Society sadly passed away following illness. An irreplaceable Bonfire Boy. The Borough won the Points Cup for the second year running.

2002 – Borough won the Points Cup for the third year running.

2003 – The Borough celebrated its 150^th Anniversary! For the fourth year running the Borough won the Points Cup at the Bonfire Council Fancy Dress Competition.

2004 – Borough retained the Pioneer Cup.

2005 – The 400^th Anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot! Borough celebrated with a fantastic display of costumes and a record breaking 40ft effigy of Guy Fawkes! As guests of Mr Norman Baker MP for Lewes, members of the Society visited the House of Commons and for only the second time Bonfire Prayers were recited within the walls.

2006 – Borough’s procession led by first ever female Zulu Pioneer Chief.