STOKE SUNDAY HISTORY SPOT
Investigating the Past, to Understand the Present, to Plan for the Future
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The Fifth of November
On the 5th November, 1605, a group of English Catholics, led by Robert Catesby, had made plans to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament. Their goal was to assassinate King James I and replace him with a Catholic monarch. Guy Fawkes was found guarding barrels of gunpowder in the cellar beneath Parliament on the night of 4–5 November. His arrest meant the end of the plot and was seen as a divine deliverance.
Londoners responded immediately with spontaneous bonfires, and the bonfire and firework tradition has survived ever since. In 1606 it all became official. Parliament passed a law requiring an annual public day of thanksgiving. Church services and bonfires became part of the ritual, reinforcing loyalty to the Protestant crown.
Bridgwater and the surrounding villages were quick to take up the ‘torch’, and Bridgwater’s commemorations grew increasingly elaborate, incorporating torchlit processions, fireworks, and the famous “squibbing” displays unique to the town.
The first formal Bridgwater Carnival procession took place in 1881, with organized floats, costumes, and community participation. So, if you were there last night, your trip goes right back to 1605.
So, what’s Stoke’s connection?
The five bells in our tower have the following inscriptions and dates: 1 'First I call to wake you all' 1628; 2 'God save the Church' 1714; 3 1818; 4 1828; 5 1823. They have been rung through the centuries for a multidude of occasions, but November 5th is one date that the Parish was willing to pay for, as seen in the passage below, reprinted from the Somerset County Herald, 1920:
RINGING OF BELLS.
The 5th of November was a day on which bells were formerly rung in many of our churches, and when the occasions for ringing the bells became so frequent as to entail considerable expense, and it was found necessary to reduce considerably the number of days on which the bells were rung, Guy Fawkes' Day was in many cases still remained upon the list of anniversaries to be thus celebrated when almost every other anniversary was struck off. From the many entries referring to this matter in various parish records we quote the following :—
On November 5th, 1680, the ringers at Minehead as usual " ring for the horrid powder plote." In 1732-33 the cost of ringing at Minehead had become so excessive that a vestry meeting decided that the bells should in future be rung on only five anniversaries, of which the 5th of November was one. Thirty-three years later Minehead decided that the ringers should be paid " for ringing on 5th of November and 29th May yearly, and on no other day at ye expense of ye parish.
From the parish records of North Curry we learn that the bells were always rung on November 5th (gunpowder plot) and May 29th (the restoration of King Charles II.) and a fee allowed, sometimes for refreshments, beer, &c.
The following extracts from the church books of Stoke St. Gregory between 1741 and 1800 will be interesting in this connection :
1744.—Gave the Ringers in Syder and expenses the 5th November
174?.—Gave the Ringers the fifth November half-hogshed of sider and bred and backey
1772.—Half Hoxhead of Cyder 5th November Meat, bread, and cheese for the same
1775.—A Hogshead of Cyder the 5th November
1776.—At ye 5th November one hogshead of Cyder and Beef and Bread and Chees and fireing to ye same
1782.—For Cyder 5th November and carriage 1 chees to the same 6 Loaves of Bread to the same
1792.—For Sider, Beef, Bread, and Cheese and Garden mores at ye 5th November
What do you reckon, Ringers? Could you manage a hogshead of cider? That's 54 gallons or 432 pints. Do you have to drink it all before while or after you're ringing, or can you take some home for tomorrow?