Barcombe Bonfire Society is proud to uphold the Sussex Bonfire night traditions. The celebrations remember the overthrow of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot to blow up The Houses of Parliament as well as the burning of Protestant martyrs during the Catholic Reformation of Queen Mary I (also known as Bloody Mary) from 1553 to 1558.
The Barcombe Bonfire traditions as we now know them started in 1930.
Timeline
1930 – First Barcombe Bonfire on 12th November
1935 – Special event for George V silver jubilee
1937 – Special event for George VI coronation
1939 – Celebrations cease for WWII
Post WWII – Re-start as Barcombe Bonfire Carnival
1953 – Special event for Queen Elizabeth II coronation
Mid-1950s – Bonfire ceases again in Barcombe
1963 – Bonfire rekindled by the Fire Brigade & Tennis Club
1972 – BBS Reformed
1997 – Bonfire postponed by a week due to inclement weather
2001 – BBS wins ‘best float’ at Crowborough Carnival, Grease Lightning Theme
2001 – Tableau of Bob Nye to celebrate his final year as Police Liaison Officer
2003 – Procession changed to Boast Lane instead of Barcombe Mills
2004 – New shed build at Spithurst & children’s procession introduced
2005 – BBS moves celebrations to two weeks after the 5th November
2007 – Procession returns to Barcombe Mills
2010 – New procession routes implemented, no longer to Barcombe Mills.
2011 – Costume competition moves to new village hall
2014 – Waterloo’s Alex Salmand tableau donated to BBS after it was not used on the 5th
2016 – Night cancelled due to lack of funds
2017 – Barcombe Bonfire returns. Costume competition moved to Royal Oak on Badge Night
2020 – Night cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions
2021 – Costume competition to be judged in procession
2022 – 50 years of BBS celebrated
2023 – Decision made to change 1st Pioneers to Saxons. The last year that 1st Pioneers is Japanese Warriors & Geishas.