IN January 1606, King James I passed a thanksgiving act to celebrate the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators to blow-up the Houses of Parliament, writes Chris Hocking, Life Member of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival. 

Called the Observance Act of 5 November 1605, it involved a special church service, bonfires and fireworks. This Act remained in force until 1859.

Bridgwater folk took great pleasure in obeying the King’s wishes and for centuries a huge bonfire was erected on the Cornhill to where the whole town gathered in order to celebrate the ‘glorious fifth’.

And it was from the flames of this fire that our annual carnival celebrations were born.

At times the base of the bonfire measured around 24 feet in diameter with disused tar-soaked rowing boats from the busy docks and river being used to form its foundations.

Even when the river trade diminished and old boats became scarce, it was not unusual for perfectly useable boats to be ‘acquired’ to keep the tradition alive.

Other combustible materials such as garden fences (even a piano on one occasion) ensured that there was enough fuel to feed the flames until the wee small hours of the morning.

Lighting the fire was entrusted to a group of eager volunteers known as the ‘bonfire boys’ but this was quite a hazardous occupation as fifteen gallons of paraffin would be used to get things started.

Indeed, so much fuel was used that, on at least one occasion, it was rumoured the initial burst of flames could be seen in South Wales.

Due to its central location, nearby shops boarded-up their windows and hung wet tarpaulins over them to prevent damage from the intense heat.

It was part of the ritual that an effigy of Guy Fawkes be consumed by the flames and often he would be accompanied on the Cornhill fire by effigies of international, national and local people who had upset the community during the previous 12 months.

There were other bonfires around the town but it was the one on the Cornhill which was to trigger the start of our carnival as we know it today.

For it was here in 1880 that the newly formed fire brigade was summoned at one o’clock in the morning and ordered to extinguish the flames.

With plenty of fuel still available, this angered the remaining revellers who cut the fire hoses, turning any remaining intact on the firemen themselves.

Next day, the riot was the talk of the town and various parties were blamed. It took a letter from Frank Squire, written to the Bridgwater Mercury, to focus attention on the real issues.

He suggested that a controlling committee be formed, and an annual procession organised, so that citizens in other parts of the town could witness the magnificent costumes which were, by now, a major feature of the festivities.

The rest, as they say is history.

Whilst the carnival procession continues to go from strength to strength, and the town’s famous fireworks, the Bridgwater Squib, remain a unique feature of our celebrations, sadly the bonfire is no longer with us. 

The last one took place on November 6th, 1924.  The following year asphalt was laid on the roads around the town centre and whilst this made travel much easier, it is a material which burns quite easily - especially below a bonfire! 

Almost a century has passed since the Cornhill bonfire flames were permanently extinguished, but its very existence has provided an eternal legacy for which the town of Bridgwater can be forever grateful.