Tar barrels at Tipton St John

Remember, Remember the Fifth of November!
With the village showing signs of Autumn and the nights drawing in, carnivals and Bonfire Night will soon be upon us. We all know of the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrrels, but did you know that Tipton also has had a Tar Barrel Tradition?  Lauren and I found an article in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, The British Newspaper Archives regarding November the 5th 1892, Tipton st John.
It tells of a celebration of great spirit with a procession of 70 men bearing flaming torches. They  marched for an hour around the village and surrounding hamlets, lead by Mr Salter and his band of instrumentalists. That must of have been an amazing sight on a dark night, hearing the singing and music coming up the dark lanes with an orange glow from the torches waving in time with the marching. When they reached the Railway Station at 8 pm a great bonfire was lit amidst cheers!
“ When this got fairly alight, a fine display of fireworks took place and the damsels and their swains started to dance to the strains of Mr Salters band. This was kept up for nearly two hours!”
It goes onto tell of how it is usual here on the anniversary of the 5th, for the men living on one side of the railway to oppose those on the other side in the burning of a number of tar barrels. They would mark a boundary and it is the object of each party to secure the barrel falling to pieces on either side. It says that though often a rather rough amusment, it is entered into with great zest!
On November the 5th 1892 the Metcombe side won the victory.

We found a number of articles relating to the Carnival in Tipton, around the early 1900’s. The processions would start off from Mount Pleasant (the Coombe crossroads) and wend its way through the roads and lanes, through Metcombe and back again.
“..many torchbearers and masked people, who masqueraded in various styles, delighted the country folk who lined the village roads”
The Tipton Band would lead the procession, with bandmaster Mr H. Baker and people came by train and road to watch.
“ The weather was dry and the murky darkness of a November night helped to heighten the spectacular effect of the brilliantly illuminated tableaux of which there were a dozen”

A feature of Tipton St John Carnival was a lifesize version of a White Elephant brought out by Mr Pottinger, which caused much laughter with its antics!
The money raised at the carnivals was given to the Ottery St Mary Cottage Hospital funds
Reading the articles gave me a real feel of the atmosphere and of the people involved in these village events....maybe we could bring them back this November!