Axbridge News: from torturing 17th century Catholics to ancient fire festivals – the history of Somerset carnivals is diverse – as Axbridge gears up for this year’s carnival on September 21

By Harry Mottram: It might be me but I don’t think we should celebrate the torture and execution of 17^th century Catholic revolutionaries but instead embrace the season of fire festivals which date to pre-Roman Britain. And along with bonfires, fireworks and squibbing come night processions and carnivals which communities in the West Country do so well. From Seaton in Devon to Bridgwater in Somerset and from Trowbridge in Wiltshire to Blandford Forum in Dorset the autumn carnival season begins in early September and concludes in early November in a galaxy of light bulbs, the roar of generators and diesel engines plus the high-volume music that accompanies many of the carts – or floats – decorated to represent anything from pirates to politicians. And along with those colourful carts are walking entries, vintage and classic cars and trucks – often as commercial entries – and families and social groups in fancy dress.

In Axbridge as far as I have been able to establish there is a different tradition – the town’s annual Blackberry Carnival takes place on a Saturday afternoon in September to coincide with the fun fair set up the town’s Square and of course the blackberry season. It appears to have been a 20^th century innovation rather than one from the mists of time with the most likeliest date being 1967or 1968 when the bypass was constructed taking heavy traffic away from the town centre.

In Cheddar there was for a time an afternoon carnival of sorts after World War 2 which in part was to raise funds to repair wartime damage to homes and infrastructure. Whether Axbridge had a procession between the wars or ealier is open to finding evidence. Certainly, places like Wells had a carnival dating back to the turn of the 19^th century as did other towns – and some of those were in daylight – sometimes linked to harvest homes and sometimes linked to Imperial events and the British Empire.

Bridgwater has in recent times been linked to the Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes – and the organisers relish the idea they are commemorating the Gun Powder Plot of November 5^th. On that date in 1605 a group of Catholic conspirators attempted to blow up Parliament in order to kill the new King James I who was also a Catholic in the hope for a new Government that would have stronger ties to Rome. Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators where tortured and executed or hunted down and killed – making Bridgwater’s obsession with Guy Fawkes night slightly tasteless. Although Bridgwater’s procession is the largest in the region with around 100,000 people thronging the streeets.

Bonfire night predates Guy Fawkes and refers to bone fires linked back to Celtic Britain according to some historians and to Hallowe’en the week before. Fire festivals were created from the dawn of humanity to renounce winter and to remind the Gods spring would return.

Meanwhile back in Axbridge the Blackberry Carnival has seen a revival in recent years with more entries, larger crowds and rain-free passes from the weather gods. There is plenty more on the Facebook site and website – but the committee or carnival club always need more help in organising such as volunteer marshalls and of course entries – whether it’s one person in fancy dress or a decorated cart pulled by a tractor or truck, a classic car or motorcycle, a commercial entry or a large walking entry – all make up the procession. And that procession would not be complete without music and majorettes plus the ‘chain gang’ – visiting mayors from Somerset towns and our own town crier, bailiff and mace bearer, mayor and town councillors. Finally no carnival is complete without a carnival queen and her royal party – always chosen from local children who are suitably dressed with their own decorated float.

A new committee has worked so hard to make this year’s carnival a success – so all praise to Di Owen, Barry Walsh, Karen Healey, Lynn howes, Abi, Sophie, Louise Walsh, Vicky, Kim Fountain, Mel, Pete Howes, George Marshall – and apologies if I’ve missed anyone out.

This year’s carnival is on Saturday 21^st September, 2024, at 2pm with the procession gathering in Cheddar Road with parking restrictions and road closures in place.

See https://www.blackberrycarnival.com/

And https://www.facebook.com/AxbridgeBlackberryCarnival

And this video from 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei3i3fN4WIE&t=1s