Carnival 1998
There are eight pages of photos [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] each page is about 100K
Welcome to my page about the Annual Guy Fawkes Carnivals in Somerset UK.
There follows eight pages of photos taken by me at the Fiftieth Carnival in North Petherton, many of the exhibits, or carts as they are known here, were also at the Bridgwater carnival, this year celebrating its 393 anniversary!
The following is a quote from this years North Petherton Official Programme (1998)
By Peter Kearle, Geoff Clifford & Jim Brunton.
The religious significance soon disappeared, but the celebrations continued, particularly around Bridgwater. Great bonfires were built and gangs would throw effigies into the flames, initially of Guy Fawkes, but in later years of famous and infamous celebrities and sometimes of unpopular local dignitaries.
Reports in the 1880's of the revelry in North Petherton give some idea of the carnival atmosphere of the time: "The bonfire was built at the top of Hammett Street (the North Petherton Cornhill), the inhabitants in the vicinity barricading their windows for protection". "There was a grand torchlight procession headed by a gang of three 'Knights of the Garter' carrying huge torches". "... after whom came the North Petherton Brass Band". "There followed a lighted tar barrel, mounted on a ladder, and carried by two men". "... amongst the various costumes worn were Cavalry mounted with swords drawn, and Infantry leading horses, ladies dressed in fast and flashy styles, Cavaliers, American Bushrangers, Choctaw Indians." "... there was a discharge of a large quantity of the celebrated North Petherton squibs. Some monsters measured 4ft. long and 2 1/2 in. thick but unfortunately most of the very large ones burst. One required four men to hold it up during the discharge." "There was a magnificent display of squibs until one o'clock when, after singing the National Anthem, nearly all dispersed."
Although a Carnival Committee was set up in 1886 to organise the event by the end of the century these festivities had virtually ceased, probably because of safety regulations (the home-made squibs were very dangerous) and because Bridgwater's Carnival had become the focus of Somerset's Guy Fawkes celebrations.
There appears to have been a lapse of 35 years before North Petherton witnessed another Carnival on it's streets, this time in the summer courtesy of the Flower Show committee. Prizes were awarded and the turn out was quite impressive. Amonst the 150 entries in the 1932 Carnival, for instance, were The North Pole gang of Bridgwater, 'Blossom Time in Japan' by the North Petherton Womens Institute, 'Speed Cops' by W. C. Clatworthy, various decorated cars, horses, cycles and considerable numbers of juveniles in fancy dress. The Bridgwater Mercury reported "The most novel and topical feature was a lorry on which was displayed 'The Dartmoor Mutiny'. The convicts behind bars breaking stones or oakum picking, with warders in attendance, the whole guarded by a strong force of police. When the prisoners 'mutineed' the fun was fast and furious."
The Carnival was abandoned in 1935 due to poor entries and big expense, and it was not until after the war that interest was revived in Petherton Carnival.
So book a date for Thursday 4 November 1999 at Bridgwater or Saturday 6 November 1999 at North Petherton, Junction 24 M5, You will be one of about 120,000! It's the best kept secret in the west.
Now go to Page One and enjoy the fun of Carnival