THE OLDEST EFFIGY OF GUY FAWKES

Battel Bonfire Boyes are indeed lucky and proud to possess the oldest effigy of Guy Fawkes in the world. Strange, you would think, because of the established custom of disposing of the effigies produced each November 5th on the bonfire.
But the peculiar origins of the Battel Guy Fawkes can be traced to the early 1700's when we know of the existence of the Battel custom of decapitating the Guy and throwing the body on the fire

The head and shoulders are carved from pear wood. The actual date is unknown.

GUNPOWDER and BONFIRES

In 1676 John Hammond was given a grant to build a powder mill on Abbey land for making gunpowder. Other mills then sprang up in the area and were said to make the finest gunpowder in Europe, supplying the British Army right up to the Crimean War.

The works flourished until 1874, when a number of explosions caused deaths, so when the lease came up for renewal the owner, the Duke of Cleveland, refused it. In fact the last explosion occurred after powder making had ceased. While the buildings were being dismantled, a spark caused by a hammer blow caused an explosion - fortunately without loss of life.

In keeping with its history of making gunpowder, one of the more notorious fireworks made in Battle was called the Battle Rouser. But because of their reputation they were banned by the Home Office in the 1950's. Two examples of these can be seen in the museum.