Everything about West Country Carnival totally explained
The West Country Carnival is an annual celebration featuring a
parade of illuminated
floats (termed "carts" locally), in the
English West Country. The celebration dates back to the
Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
The series of parades in each town now form a major regional festival. Some
carts cost in excess of £20,000 to build and are the result of thousands of man hours work throughout the year.
The event's purpose, as it has always been from the start, raises thousands of pounds for local
charities from money collection carts in the two hour procession.
History
The timing of the West Country Carnival close to the British celebration of
Bonfire night is no coincidence, as the roots of the original carnival in
Bridgwater date back to
1605.
Guy Fawkes is the character most associated with the plot to blow up the
Houses of Parliament, however the instigator was
Jesuit priest
Robert Parsons from
Nether Stowey, a short distance from Bridgwater. Parsons and his colleagues were
Catholics who wanted to put an end to the
Protestant King and Parliament of the day and hence they planned their ill-fated attempt on
5 November 1605.
Bonfire night is a major annual celebration across the whole of
England, but it's likely that the reason that the West Country Carnival was originally so keenly celebrated is that the
South West towns were predominantly
Protestant — hence the celebration of Robert Parsons' (and Guy Fawkes') failure. The religious origins of the event are almost forgotten and far less significant today
Bridgwater
The original
Bridgwater celebrations consisted of a large
bonfire at the Cornhill. Built out of a large wooden boat, around one hundred
tar barrels where added, together with just about anything else available which could be burned. This tradition was stopped due to lack of old wooden boats to burn, and because a number of good boats were thrown onto the fire and burnt by over-enthusiastic revellers.
Effigies or "guys" representing the gunpowder plot instigators were added to the fire by local groups of people known as
gangs. It would seem it was these gangs who started the trend towards a procession, as they paraded their guys towards the bonfire. As years passed by, the tradition was continued and the annual celebration became more and more elaborate, involving costumes and music, until the key feature of the event was a large carnival procession. With modern Health and Safety concerns, it has become difficult to purchase squibs with a bang, and due of rising insurance costs the present day squib's used have no bang.
Lines of flammable liquid are also run along the ground by the squibbers and lit to add more to the spectacle. Visitors often think the whole sight looks a little dangerous, but the event is well organised and nobody has been hurt to date.
In 2007, 170 squibs were lit.
Modern times
The
Bridgwater carnival first modernised in
1881 and was originally lit by lamps; electric lights were first introduced in 1913.
Bridgwater carnival now consists of a display of over 100 large vehicles up to long, festooned with dancers and up to 22,000 lightbulbs,
that follows a route over two to three hours. 2005 included the
"Masquerade 2000" entrants from
Notting Hill Carnival, which it's hoped will become an annual entry.
Bridgwater now attracts around 150,000 people from around the West Country, UK and globally. Parking from the
M5 is well sign posted and plentiful, and managed by the committee in association with
Avon and Somerset Police. Public access Grandstands were introduced in the mid 1990s, which have increased in popularity over recent years: 2003 and 2004 being sold out by mid/late October. Since 2004 there have been 10 grandstands, with seating numbered and having some cover against the potential of inclement weather. The stand locations in 2006 were Broadway East (8) and Broadway West (2).
The event's purpose, as it has always been from the start, is to raise money for local charities from money collection carts in the procession. Since 2003, around £115,000 has been raised at Bridgwater Carnival.
Carnival concert
The carnival concert takes place in the weeks leading up to the carnival. At these concerts, carnival clubs perform on stage wearing their costumes and using pieces of scenery taken from their carts. After being poorly patronised for a period, the carnival concert has become a highly popular attraction in recent years, with tickets to see the event in a Bridgwater hall selling out very quickly - partly due to increased publicity, and partly as the popularity of the carnival increases it's an easy access way to see the carnival over more days
Calendar and controversy
The
Bridgwater carnival had traditionally been held on
Bonfire night, or November 5th. This was then formalised in
1919 post
World War I, as the carnival circuits were formed to be held on the first Thursday of November - Thursday was traditionally early closing day for shops in Bridgwater.
Local Government Authorities and Businesses were keen to the reschedule the event to a weekend date - presumably to make it more convenient for visitors to attend. This met strong resistance from many locals who believe the tradition of so many years should be maintained, and from others who are concerned that the new timing could affect the ability of clubs to participate in other local carnival processions -
North Petherton carnival has traditionally taken place on the following Saturday. The new timing would also spoil another local tradition known as
Black Friday where locals celebrate their hard work on carnival in an alcoholic manner.
However, accepting that shops and work times in the present have changed greatly and the local economic business need, the Bridgwater Carnival Committee decided, not without much controversy, to move the Carnival to a Friday with effect from 2001. This was part of a strategy to keep the carnival alive in the long term, with the committee working with
Sedgemoor District Council to provide entertainment for visitors from midday on Carnival day. It is hoped that as a result of the changed date many visitors will come earlier and stay longer, perhaps taking in some of the other Carnivals and entertainment provided locally.
The carnival circuit
The Bridgwater carnival was the first carnival of its type, however other carnival processions within the South West began some years ago. They start in late August and continue until late November. The oldest and largest circuit is the
Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association Circuit which starts at Bridgwater, with many of the carts will appear in all of the carnivals. Prizes are awarded in several categories for the best carts in each carnival.
The three circuits are:
There is one unofficial carnival in the circuit, held at
Midsomer Norton on the Thursday between the Shepton Mallet and Wells carnivals. There are also a series of unofficial
Christmas carnivals, including
Sidmouth.
Carts and floats
Uniquely in the West Country, the vehicles are called carnival
"carts", unlike other carnivals where the term
carnival float is used. The term "cart" is still used today to describe the large and elaborate trailers used in the procession. Carts are built by local clubs of individuals funded totally by charitable donations and sponsorship from local businesses.
Carts are always themed, with no restriction on the theme from the organising committee. Regularly chosen themes include:
Popular children's books - like Alice in Wonderland
Favourite children's characters - such as Disney characters
Scenes or themes from history - like Pre-Historic, Victorian or famous Battles
Scenes or themes from around the world - such as Australia, Rio de Janeiro or Spanish
Travel and transport - such as cars or trains, for example The Chattanooga Choo-Choo
Popular themes of the day - including pop songs or dances
The future or exploration - such as space
Carts include both music and costumed people to complete their theme. People and items on the cart can either be moving, or static in tableau format - the later being difficult to hold position for on a cold November evening.
Today these carts are driven by farmers' tractors, and usually also tow a large diesel driven electricity generator to provide the huge amount of power required to power the carts. Some generators used can provide over a megawatt of power, with 10,000 to 30,000 light bulbs not uncommon on a modern day cart. The tractors themselves are often decorated to match the rest of the cart and generator, and in some cases modified so that the driver is positioned low down between the two front wheels. This allows for a higher degree of decoration without obscuring the driver's view. The length of the entire cart is often built to the maximum allowable of .
Carnival clubs
Carts or floats are built by local clubs, which as local charities themselves are aimed specifically and solely at raising funds for other charities which operate within their locality. Clubs generate all funds required to build and operate their carts totally by charitable donations from individuals and sponsorship from local businesses - all funds raised during the carnival season are wholly distributed by the club charity. Some carts cost in excess of £20,000 to build and are the result of thousands of man-hours work throughout the year. Most clubs are based around local working or social circles, such as pubs and clubs. Many clubs have specialist Juvenile Carnival clubs for the under 18s. To join an adult 18 and over club, an initiation ceremony is often involved. All work is carried out in the spare time of the club members on a voluntary basis - often working all night in the final few days to get carts ready.
At the end of the carnival season, many think that the work is over until the next year - but for the Carnivalites, the season never ends. Before Christmas new club officers are voted in for the following year, and by the end of January the idea for next year has already been chosen and plans are being made. Then the fund-raising begins: bars, buffets, race nights, bingo nights, anything to keep raising funds.
It is surprising with all the expense that anyone pulls out a cart or puts on a show at all, but that’s where the spirit of Carnival comes into play. Being a member of such an organisation not only gives plenty to do in members' spare time and an excellent social life, but the sense of pride when everything comes together for the opening night of concerts or the feeling members get when they pull the cart out of the shed on carnival day.
List of carnival clubs
The following is a list of major carnival clubs and their home town locations:
2Rs Carnival Club - Temple Cloud, Bristol
Aliens Carnival Club
- Frome, Somerset
Aysheberton Stannary Carnival Club - Ashburton, Devon
Bridgwater YMCA Carnival Club - Bridgwater, Somerset
Brimgrovers Carnival Club - Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset
Britannia Carnival Club - Castle Cary, Somerset
British Flag Carnival Club - Bridgwater, Somerset
Cavaliers Carnival Club - Bridgwater, Somerset
Cary Comedians Carnival Club - Castle Cary, Somerset
Centurions Carnival Club - a tableau club based in Bridgwater, Somerset
Chameleon Carnival Club - Frome and Somerton, Somerset
Cobra Carnival Club
Crusaders Carnival Club - Bridgwater, Somerset
Domino Carnival Club - Chard, Somerset
En-spired Carnival Club - Salisbury, Wiltshire
Excalibur Carnival Club - Topsham, Devon
Gemini Carnival Club - Ilminster, Somerset
Globe Carnival Club - Wells, Somerset
Golden Triangle Carnival Club - Ilminster, Somerset
Gorgons Carnival Club - Wells, Somerset
Gremlins Carnival Club - Bridgwater Sports & Social Club, Bath Road, Bridgwater
Griffens Carnival Club - created by the merger of the Griffens and Bath Bridge Carnival Clubs. Based at the Squib Pub on West Street, Bridgwater, Somerset
Harlequin Carnival Club - Bell Inn, Ilminster, Somerset
High Spirits Carnival Club - Honiton, Devon
Hillview Juvenile Carnival Club - Highbridge, Somerset
Huckyduck Carnival Club - Coleford, Somerset
Just Georges Carnival Club - Sturminster Newton, Dorset
King William Carnival Club
Lime Kiln Carnival Club - Bridgwater, Somerset
Magnum Carnival Club
Luckington Carnival Club
Marina Sydenham Juvenile Carnival Club - Bridgwater, Somerset
Marketeers Carnival Club - Bridgwater, Somerset
Masqueraders Carnival Club - Meare, Glastonbury, Somerset
Mendip Vale Carnival Club - Wells, Somerset
Motiv8 Carnival Club
New Beginnings Carnival Club - Taunton, Somerset
New Market Carnival Club - Bridgwater, Somerset
Nunsford Nutters Carnival Club - Colyton, Devon
Oasis Carnival Club - Frome, Somerset
Pentathlon Carnival Club - North Petherton, Somerset
Peredins Carnival Club
Phoenix Carnival Club - Honiton, Devon
Poppe Inne Carnival Club - Tatworth near Chard, Somerset
Prattens Carnival Club - Prattens-Westfield Amateur Sports and Social Club, Charlton Road, Midsomer Norton
Rainbow/Oddbins Carnival Club
Ramblers Carnival Club - formed 1962 in Bridgwater, Somerset
Rascals Juvenile Carnival Club - Ilminster, Somerset
Revellers Carnival Club - Motcombe near Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shambles Carnival Club - Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Sidvale Carnival Club - Sidford, Devon
St. Peters Carnival Club - Yeovil, Somerset
Tango Juvenile Carnival Club - Salcombe Regis, Devon
Vagabonds Carnival Club - The Commercial Inn in Bridgwater, Somerset
Waterside Carnival Club - Midsomer Norton, Somerset
Wick Carnival Club - Glastonbury, Somerset
Wilfs Carnival Club - The Newmarket Hotel in Bath Road, Bridgwater
Wills Carnival Club - Bridgwater, Somerset
Yeovil Boys Brigade Carnival Club - Yeovil, Somerset
Young At Heart Pilgrims Carnival Club - Puriton, SomersetFurther Information
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