It’s a unique celebration, as eccentric as only the British know how to be. It is an event loved by children and adults alike, one that traces its origins back to the turbulent 17th century in England. Guy Fawkes Night – or Bonfire Night – as it is better known, commemorates a dastardly plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, and to murder the king. Bonfire Night is celebrated in England every November 5th almost as feverishly as Christmas and like Christmas is anticipated and planned for weeks beforehand. Bonfire Night in Britain is always special but 2005 marks the 400th anniversary of one of the most infamous events in British history.
A Dastardly Plot...
The plot to blow up Parliament was masterminded by Robert Catesby, an enthusiastic supporter of the Catholic cause, and opponent of the ruling and powerful Church of England. In the course of recruiting people to carry out his plan, Catesby was introduced to an ex-soldier named Guy Fawkes, and was impressed with him. Guy Fawkes, who was born in the city of York in 1570, and converted to Catholicism at the age of 16, must have seemed the ideal man for the dangerous job. He had served his country admirably as a soldier in France and the Netherlands and had considerable experience with explosives. He must also have cut an imposing figure – drawings of him from the time show a broad shouldered figure with flowing red hair and a long beard.
If you are interested by Fawkes’ early life you can take a guided walking tour through the narrow streets and alleys of the historic city of York seeing the various places where he was supposedly born and educated.
Fawkes and the other 12 conspirators somehow managed to rent a cellar under the Houses of Parliament and began to gradually stockpile explosives there. Their plan was to blow up Parliament on the day of the state opening, along with the King, James I. Their long term aim was to plunge England into turmoil upon the death of the king, and to force the election of a new monarch, one that would be sympathetic to its Catholic past.
As the night of the plot drew nearer, some of the conspirators began to have second thoughts about their plan, thinking that perhaps innocent people as well as those sympathetic to their cause may die unintentionally. An anonymous letter was supposedly sent to the king outlining the details of the dastardly plot. History is vague as to whether there really was a letter, but somehow the king found out and fortunately, the plot was foiled almost literally at the last minute. Even as they were about to light the fuse on their 36 barrels of explosives hidden beneath piles of firewood, the traitors were caught, tried for treason and eventually executed. Fawkes’ signed confession is today on display in the UK National Archives in Kew, London.