Remember, remember the 5th of November!
With Bonfire Night just around the corner, we take a look at why we celebrate this historic date with fireworks – and why Lincolnshire is connected to the infamous Gunpowder Plot.
Most people celebrate the 5th November with bonfires and fireworks – but not everyone knows the backstory of this explosive tradition.
Also known as Guy Fawkes night, the origins of Bonfire Night date back to 1605. At this time, England was under the ruling of James I, who was a protestant. Unbeknownst to the King, a small group of English Catholics were plotting a rebellion against him. Their goal was to assassinate the protestant King, and replace him with a Catholic leader.
There were 13 men in the rebel group, one of which was York-born Guy Fawkes. After extensive planning, the conspirators decided to place explosives beneath the House of Lords, in an attempt to blow up Parliament. Once an explosive experts in the military, Fawkes was the perfect person to light the final fuse.
The government already had inklings of a plot against the king, but their fears were confirmed with an anonymous tip off. On the 26th October, a letter was sent to Catholic politician Lord Monteagle, warning him to stay away from Parliament. Despite being aware of the letter, the conspirators decided to go ahead with their plans, believing that the Government would dismiss it as a hoax.
Luckily, the letter was shown to the King, who ordered a search of the cellars beneath Parliament. A search took place in the early hours of the 5th November, during which Guy Fawkes was caught and arrested. Following his capture, the search party discovered 36 barrels of explosives, hidden beneath piles of firewood and coal.
In January 1606, James I passed an act to celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot and his subsequent escape from death. Known as the Observance of 5 November Act 1605, special church services, bonfires and fireworks were held each year, to commemorate the fateful day. Although the act was dissolved in 1859, these celebrations still take place today.
Lincolnshire and the Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot may have taken place in London, but did you know the original plans were partly hatched in Lincolnshire?
Twigmoor Hall at Manton, near Brigg, was once home to John Wright, one of the conspirators in the plot. Wright was one of the first men to join the rebel group, later followed by his brother Christopher. Both men were former schoolmates of Guy Fawkes, and their sister was married to Thomas Percy – another conspirator in the plot.
History suggests that Twigmoor Hall hosted several meetings regarding the Gunpowder Plot, and was once described as being used as “a Popish college for traitors in the northern part”.
When the plot was uncovered and Guy Fawkes was arrested, John and Christopher Wright both fled back to the Midlands, before being killed in a battle with the authorities.
