Every year on 5^th November, people in Britain celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 with bonfires, effigies of Guy Fawkes and fireworks.

You’ll find thousands of descriptions and images of Bonfire Night celebrations from the past in our collection of historical newspapers. We’ve selected some of our favourite examples for you to enjoy.

1861: Burning the Guy on the fifth of November

Penny Illustrated Paper – Saturday 09 November 1861
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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1883: Guy Fawkes celebrations at Bridgewater

The Graphic – Saturday 17 November 1883
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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1910: Inventive begging on Guy Fawkes’ Day

Hull Daily Mail – Friday 04 November 1910
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

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1913: Searching the vaults at the Houses of Parliament

Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser – Tuesday 11 March 1913
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

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1926: Celebrating the gunpowder plot with a bonfire in Somerset

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette – Saturday 06 November 1926
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

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Have you found an amazing image or story about Bonfire Night in the newspapers? Comment below and show us what you’ve found.