Remember, Remember...
The big news from Betley Court this week is that tickets are now available for our December tours on the 11th and 12th. We’ll be inviting visitors to don hard hats and hi-viz jackets, to climb up the scaffolding, and find out how the rebuild is progressing behind the scaffold wrap, follwoing the devastating fire in 2019. The tour lasts 30 minutes, and afterwards visitors are welcome to have a walk around the 10 acres of garden, and enjoy a mince pie and mulled wine in the new visitors’ hub.
The tours take place as we start the next phase of building
work – Phase 1B: reinstating the roof, and groups will be accompanied by
a member of the Brown family along with an expert from the build team to recount the
day of the fire, explain how the building is being rebuilt and answer any
questions. Of course, it would not be possible to conduct these tours without
the assistance of our heritage construction team, MCL or the scaffold experts
from Midland Scaffolding Services. Thank you, guys!
You’ll find the tickets on the E-ticket website Eventbrite.
Hope to see you there!
Remember, Remember…
It’s Bonfire Night on Friday 5th November, the night traditionally in the UK, people mark the foiled Gunpowder Plot of 5th November 1605. This is the night Guy Fawkes, one of the gunpowder plotters was caught secreting explosives under the House of Lords in an attempt to disrupt the British Parliament and kill King James I.
 |
| Guy Fawkes |
Around this time each year, bonfires are lit, topped by a straw-filled effigies representing Guy Fawkes, and fireworks let off, celebrating the safety of the King, on that November day 416 years ago.
Bonfire night started as a
spontaneous celebration of the plotters’ failure, but not long after, became
enforced by the Observance of 5th November Act 1605. Churches
were required to hold Thanksgiving services, and people obliged to attend, and
remain orderly. Although the act was repealed in 1859, the celebrations are
still observed all around the UK.
Betley boasts one of the largest and finest bonfire nights in the area, and it is held next door to Betley Court, in the fields of the former ‘home farm’. This year it is to be held on 6th November, and the fire pile is visible in the distance from Betley Court. It is an amazing event, complete with funfair, fast food and professional pyrotechnics, and draws in people from all over the district.
 |
| Betley bonfire, in the distance, photo taken from the top of the scaffolding at Betley Court |
I knew Betley Bonfire was a longstanding tradition in the
village, so I thought I’d delve into the British Newspaper Archives again, to
see what had been written in the press in the past. I was astounded to find out
just how far back Betley’s bonfire tradition goes.
 |
| George IV in his coronation garb (he was known for his flashy and extravagent dressing!) |
It seems Betley folk have marked historic occasions with celebratory bonfires for hundreds of years. In the nineteenth century, bonfires played an important part of the celebrations in marking coronations and royal births. 200 years ago, on the 28th July 1821, the Staffordshire Advertiser reported on Betley’s celebrations for the coronation of King George IV, stating,
“The inhabitants of Betley
manifested their loyalty on the day of Coronation, by ringing the church bells
at intervals the whole of the day. In the evening there was a bonfire, and
processions, headed by a band of music; the national anthem of “God save the
King” and also “Rule Britannia” were sung; after which a quantity of ale was
distributed, and his Majesty’s health, with many other appropriate toasts,
drank with enthusiasm.”[1]
The paper then goes onto report on later celebrations at the
‘big houses’,
“At the hospitable mansions of
Betley Court and Betley Hall, suppers were given to the servants and work
people, with plenty of good old English stingo.”
I had to look up English stingo, and found out it was
a strong, sharp beer, its name hinting at its sharpness. [Samuel Smith brewery
still make Yorkshire Stingo, in case your curiosity has been piqued]
Sixty years ago, the Crewe Chronicle reported on
preparations for Betley bonfire, demonstrating the popularity and size of the
festivities even then.
“Within two hours, 3 hundredweight
of fireworks costing 100 guineas will go up in smoke at the village bonfire and
fireworks display to be held in the grounds of Betley Court on November 4.
For weeks now, preparations for
the event, which attracts people from a wide area, have been in hand and the
mound of material provided by farmers of the district, towers upwards of 30
feet and measures 48 feet across.[2]
The article also describes the scale of the fireworks
display,
“There will be 200 aerial effects
and 19 set pieces including Niagra Falls, a fantail pigeon, a palm court
fountain, revolving suns and a St. Andrew’s Cross.”
Then, as now, the bonfire raises money for good causes with
funds being raised for the building of ‘a new village hall’.
As a footnote, the article mentions that “the local hostelry
will be open till 11pm”. It seems that celebrations and good ale are never far
apart in Betley! Long may that continue!
All best wishes
Ladybird Su
Comments
Post a Comment