Bridgwater Carnival

Unique to Bridgwater, just like the squibbing, are the Carnival Concerts which have been an integral part of the festivities for well over a hundred years.  These concerts are performed by the Bridgwater clubs as part of their fund raising programme ...

For Bridgwater, it all began with a huge bonfire at the Cornhill in the town centre.  It was huge, at least twenty-four feet across the base.  A hundred old tar barrels and disused tar-soaked rowing boat formed the foundation of the bonfire.  So str...

Every 5th November, across the nation, something very strange occurs. Heads are craned skywards in search of exploding star bursts.  Folks of all ages stare into the orange glow of huge bonfires.  But visit Bridgwater in November and you can witness t...

One traditional activity which sets Bridgwater Carnival  apart from the rest is the tradition of squibbing.  The squibs are giant fireworks which are attached to coshes.  Coshes are something like a large sweeping brush with no bristles.  Where the bris...

The squibbing  tradition possibly goes back to the early 1600’s but at least to 1716 and an incident with John Taylor.  He was a local manufacturer of squibs but the event is recorded only because of the tragic circumstances surrounding his name.  Taylo...

It is important to realise first of all how the bonfires  and the use of effigies of Guy Fawkes, the Guys, contributed to the development of today’s carnival. In Bridgwater’s town centre, perhaps as a result of the high concentration of drinking house...

Alas the bonfire is no longer with us.  The last one took place on November 6th, 1924.  In charge of proceedings was Edwin Scribbens who had been a ‘bonfire boy’ for sixty one years.  Harry Burge led a procession of bonfire boys around the stack of mat...