Every year on 5th 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 …
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We were fascinated by this newspaper story from 1828 that reports on how Guy Fawkes night was celebrated in England that year. With the exception of the ringing of church bells, it seems that perhaps not much has changed since 1828. And it’s very interesting to see that this article also includes a mention of how the Stock Exchange celebrated the event – a refreshing angle that is sadly lacking in many of today’s newspaper reports of Bonfire Night. Manchester …
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We liked this wee news snippet about the Old Red Hall, near Bourne, which is where the Gunpowder Plot conspirators met to hatch their plan. And fascinating to see that the Old Red Hall was going to be demolished for the building of a new railway line, but that the railway company helpfully arranged to swerve past the house, leaving it untouched. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000336/18931111/072/0007 The Leeds Times – Saturday 11 November 1893 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.