Flaming Barrels and Flapjack

Well, as promised, here is my blog entry about 

Battel Bonfire Boyes 

and the fantastic show on Saturday evening.

The town of Battle is built around the abbey which was built by William after the Battle of Hastings. It is said to be on the site of the battle but the latest thinking is that the actual fighting took place on the area near the roundabout as you enter Battle.

In fact my brother-in-law, Stuart`s house, is actually in that vicinity. We were invited there for the celebrations with a brilliant ringside seat in his front garden. This is in a slightly elevated position so we got a great view and an opportunity for good pictures.

.  After great food and drinks courtesy of Stuart, the excitement inside was beginning to build up with glowsticks being activated and outside, with the crowds. When we peeped through the curtains there were literally hordes of people walking up to the main town from the train station.

Some of our party ventured up to the abbey square where the crowds were so thick, they soon turned round and came back. (The bonfire was in the square later.)

A great cannon was set off and it wasn`t long before the long procession of bonfire societies were making their way down the hill. Ninfield got a big cheer from all of us.

Tremendous excitement, noise, atmospheric torchlight and drumming bands as well as smoke.

Costumed participants .... clowns, Vikings, pirates, all sorts of outfits.

 

I personally love the drumming bands and would have loved to add video here but its not always a good idea.

The procession doubled back on itself which was an incredible sight. Two metre long bangers were lit all along the way. The noise was deafening and I noticed some marchers handing out ear plugs for young people.

Torches fell to the ground to be stamped on by followers. Smoke billowed around everyone, lending an added dimension to the proceedings.

When the flaming half barrels rolled up the hill with fireworks exploding and making an indescribable noise, we knew it was coming to an end .... people followed on to the square.

We all went inside for a welcome cuppa.  It wasn`t a cold evening but it was lovely to sit by Stuart`s inglenook wood burner. And partake of even more of his delicious flapjack.

Not long after that we were able to see the firework display from the back garden. And that was quite a sight.

A brilliant evening and a strange thought to think of the Norman soldiers marching into battle in possibly the very same footsteps of the evenings revellers, with maybe a different set of objectives in their minds.