On 17 Nov 2017 at 10:34am Damp squib wrote:
Hello,
Just wondered why Brighton, which is so close to Lewes, doesn't have big bonfire celebratio
ns on November 5th. I think two of the protestant matyrs were from Brighton, and maybe only one from Lewes, the rest from neighbouring towns and villages...just curious as Brighton tends to make a big show of most things...
On 17 Nov 2017 at 11:43am A bit of bonfire history wrote:
It used to have a bonfire society Brighton Bonfire Society, it used to hold a bonfire on the level, the processions walked around the Level a couple of times lit the fire, let off fire works then walked around the level a final time. it existed for 3 years in the mid 1870's possibly that is why so many came to lewes as spectators or for many years as members of the Borough. easier to join in rather than run a separate event. the procession being very limited in length would not have helped. I do not believe any programmes exist but reports in the local papers do list full accounts of the events.
On 17 Nov 2017 at 12:58pm Erp wrote:
Because Lewes was the administrative centre of this county. They were taken here to be tried and publicly punished as an example. Brighthelmstone, was a fishing village at the time with less establishment than Bishopstone for instance.
On 17 Nov 2017 at 3:23pm Nobby wrote:
There was an outmeeting in Brighton sometime in the late eighties, early nineties.
On 17 Nov 2017 at 3:58pm ClarifiedButler wrote:
High turnover of people particularly in the centre of the city/town. Lot's of commuters in recent years too. The economy is based on language students and naff conferences too.
On 17 Nov 2017 at 7:08pm Mavis wrote:
They aren't possessed by bonfire like the majority of towns and cities in the UK .
On 18 Nov 2017 at 12:54am The Greek wrote:
Brighton used to have a couple of bonfire societies, who used to process to Lewes!! Go to Lewes Library and check out the local history section and it will tell you all about it.. Brighton has got to big and cosmpolitan and lost its Sussex roots.
On 18 Nov 2017 at 11:18am Bert wrote:
Brighton got with the programme long ago, its got street lighting at night and everything, 24 hour city, food shops, knicker shops, all sorts of shops that sell normal goods at normal prices. Established decent hotels long since too
On 20 Nov 2017 at 9:38am Observer wrote:
I was under the impression that bonfire in Lewes is partly to do with political machinations in the 19th century - the local MP was a liberal, but the tories wanted to get rid of him. Irish home rule was a big issue at the time, the liberals for, the tories against, so the challenger stoked up anti-catholic feeling and revived the memories of the martyrs. I'm not saying there wasn't bonfire in Lewes before that, but its current strength dates back to that. Brighton wasn't in the Lewes seat, but a lot of the places you see processing in Lewes were....
On 24 Nov 2017 at 2:01pm Damp squib wrote:
Interesting. Thank you. The two towns are very different considering that they are close together, both have interesting traditions. I like the December lantern light parade that Brighton do etc., not to mention the healthy interest in political matters... I was just curious really as the Lewes event is so spectacular and impressive, and at least one of the martyrs was from Brighton...