Communal bonfires are lit and fireworks flash in the night sky. Though many Britons enjoy the celebrations, few people these days are aware of the significance of the date or the historic events which are being celebrated.
On 5th November 1605 a conspiracy to blow up Parliament - the Gunpowder Plot - was uncovered and foiled. The plotters had planned to detonate 36 barrels of gunpowder in one of Parliament’s cellars. If the plot had succeeded it would have blown up the king of England, James I, at the state opening of Parliament, along with many of the lords of the land.
The plotters – who would have been termed terrorists in modern day parlance - hoped that their plan would bring to an end the then prevalent persecution of Catholics. And, ultimately, they hoped to replace the Protestant James I (who was also James VI of Scotland) with a Catholic monarch.
The annual celebrations are intended to commemorate the deliverance of the king from danger and a victory over Catholicism. The intrigue behind the beginnings of Bonfire Night, and the implied sectarianism and intolerance, have been largely forgotten. That despite the popular phrase, "remember, remember, the fifth of November".
Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot
The name most commonly associated with the Gunpowder Plot is that of Guy Fawkes. Many people assume, given that his name is so closely linked to the night of celebration, that Fawkes must have been the leader of the plot. That, however, was not the case. Robert Catesby was the leader of the fifteen Catholic conspirators who hoped to strike a blow on behalf of their co-religionists.
Fawkes did have an important role to play in events. He was arrested in the cellar of Parliament on the night of 4th November 1605. He had with him the tools necessary to detonate the gunpowder; slow matches, a touchwood and a watch. He claimed to be John Johnson at first. Torture was used to obtain Fawkes’ true identity.
The intrigue, deception, torture and executions associated with the Gunpowder Plot and its aftermath ensure its place as one of the more colourful events in British history books.
Locations Associated with the Gunpowder Plot
Several locations scattered across England can claim links with the plot, making interesting destinations for tourists and travellers keen to visit sites with historic associations:
- The cellar, in which the gunpowder was stored, no longer exists. It was destroyed by fire in 1834. The blaze necessitated the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament into the form which stands today.
- The lantern which Guy Fawkes had with him when he was apprehended can be seen in The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
- Several of the individuals involved in the conspiracy headed from London to Holbeche House in Staffordshire. Four of the group, including Catesby, were fatally wounded there on 8th November 1605, when the Sheriff of Worcester arrived with a posse of men to apprehend them.
- After being found guilty of treason four of the men were executed in St Paul’s Churchyard, in London, on 30th January 1606.
- The following day four more, including Guy Fawkes, were hung, drawn and quartered in the Old Palace Yard of Westminster.
- The city of Fawkes’ birth, York, is also worth visiting.
The Gunpowder Plot's Living Traditions
The plot has spawned two noteworthy traditions which are still observed:
- Prior to the ceremonial state opening of Parliament, the Yoemen of the Guard conduct a search of the Houses of Parliament, including the cellar, so that any similar attempts upon the life of the monarch and lords can be hindered.
- The other is the creation of effigies of the man most closely associated with the plot. These effigies are known by Fawkes’ first name; Guy. They are displayed by people who, according to tradition, request "a penny for the guy." These days anyone giving just a penny might be regarded as a something of a skinflint. Traditionally, fireworks are purchased with the money raised. The guys are reduced to ashes on top of the communal bonfires which are built in the days leading up to Bonfire Night.
Travel to the Historic Sites
For more information on the destinations associated with Britain's Gunpowder Plot of 1605 visit the UK's official travel and tourism website.
Stuart Forster - Stuart Forster is a features writer and photographer based in north-east England. He speaks fluent German and enjoys travelling to ...
