Hastings Borough Bonfire Society

to be completed.......

Something about the societies that existed in 19th Century - e.g. Borough (Founded 1860), Bohemia, West Hill.

A Guy's Head from the Bohemia Bonfire Boys (in Hastings Museum)

Hastings Borough Bonfire Society pre World War 2 Banner (in Hastings Museum)

Excerpt from local archives -

Annual Bonfire Meetings 11/09/1905 The annual meeting of the Hastings Bonfire Society was held at its headquarters, the Clarence Hotel, Middle Street, on the 11th. Bohemia Bonfire Society held a meeting at the Dripping Spring pub, Tower Road, on the 18th, where the officers and committee were elected.

From the Hastings News of 10/11/1865

Guy Fawkes day was celebrated on 5 November by about 50 St Leonards Bonfire Boys, marching round Bopeep, Maze Hill etc, in dresses including naval, military, masquerade, livery and non-descript. The guy was dressed up as a Fenian, with shellelah in hand. Hastings Bonfire Boys were smaller in number and both parties ended up on the beach.

05/11/1866

At 5pm Hastings Bonfire Boys got into marching order headed by a drum and fife band. The guy was of an anti-slavery character.

11/11/1905

There were big celebrations of the 300th anniversary of Guy Fawkes on 5 November, despite the heavy rain. The Mail ran a big story, with lots of detail (page 2).

05/11/1906

The Guy Fawkes celebrations were “much inferior” to those of previous years. There was only one procession, although it was a popular one, followed by a fire on the beach at White Rock.

End of Society after WW2.

Reformation of Society in 1995.