Key Highlights
- The annual event at Ottery St Mary sees thousands of visitors flock to the town for the flaming tar barrels spectacle.
- Organisers estimate that 20,000 people attended the event this year.
- The tradition dates back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and involves carrying burning wooden firkins through the streets.
- Participants must be born and bred in Ottery St Mary and have taken part as a child to qualify for adult events.
The Tar Barrel Tradition
Ottery St Mary, a small town in Devon, England, hosted its annual Bonfire Night celebration with the traditional tar barrel event. The spectacle, believed to date back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, sees residents carry flaming barrels through the streets as part of an ancient rite of passage.
According to Andrew Wade, president of the Tar Barrels Committee, the tradition is deeply rooted in history: “Most of it was to do with 1605 when bonfires and effigies were burnt and barrels were plentiful.” The event involves a series of stages, starting with children’s barrels before progressing to men’s, women’s, and intermediate events. A total of 27 barrels were carried throughout the evening.
Preparations and Organisational Efforts
The town had to close due to the influx of visitors, as car parks filled up early despite poor weather conditions. To ensure safety, local authorities worked closely with various emergency services, including Devon and Cornwall Police, St Johns Ambulance Service, and fire and rescue teams.
Darrin Abbott, a veteran participant from Hawaii, shared his excitement: “This is our Christmas… I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” His enthusiasm reflects the deep community spirit that the event fosters. Despite potential dangers, organisers emphasised controlled conditions: “Everything is absolutely controlled,” said Wade. “Once this finishes we’ll have a debrief and take a cold hard look at what worked well.”
Participation and Community Involvement
The event requires participants to be born and bred in Ottery St Mary, with many taking part as children before advancing to adult events. Maddie Small, an 11-time participant, highlighted the family tradition: “It’s a normal town… everyone has normal jobs but tonight is the night we all come together.” This sense of community engagement underscores the cultural significance of the event.
Health and safety measures were paramount, with participants wearing heavy gloves made from sacking material. Some also used protective strapping on their arms and petroleum jelly on their faces to avoid burns. The only piece of “specialist” clothing worn was these basic protective gloves.
Safety and Organisational Success
Despite the potentially hazardous nature of carrying burning barrels, Tim Whiteoak from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue reported that the event was “ironically” fairly safe: “We’ve hardly had any incidents and certainly none relating to the tar barrels.” This outcome is attributed to the meticulous planning and teamwork among volunteers and emergency services.
Paul Gibbons, a chief steward at the event, expressed satisfaction with how well the volunteers performed their roles: “We enjoy it, and if we all don’t do our integral part of the team, this event won’t happen.” The successful execution of the event demonstrated effective collaboration between local authorities and community members.
As the event concluded with the Midnight Barrel, or “Gurt Big Un,” organisers expressed relief that they could reopen at 01:00 on Thursday. This year’s celebration highlighted both the enduring traditions of Bonfire Night and the modern safety measures that ensure their continued existence in Ottery St Mary.
