SE3 Blackheath Fireworks Display

Hello people,

Tonight I will be heading over to Blackheath to watch the fireworks. Me and Rosie go every year. It’s always a great atmosphere, and lots of fun. Around 100,000 people are expected to attend, but then, large crowds on the heath are nothing new.

The most famous gathering on the heath happened in 1305 when Watt Tyler led a band of Kentish rebels into London to protest against the King Richard II's high taxes.

The Kings representatives arranged to meet with Watt Tyler and his men in Blackheath, hoping to settle their differences over a café latte and some gluten and diary free cake from the farmers market.

Despite enjoying their cake and the organic bread, Watt and his men were unmoved. They marched into London, and went on a murderous rampage, killing anyone associated with the royal government, and destroying the Savoy Palace. The riots were eventually put down and Watt was beheaded, but the famous meeting is still commemorated in Blackheath by Watt Tyler road - which runs alongside the green near the Hare and Billet pub.

I love everything about the Blackheath fireworks display - the colours, the noises, the crowds, the little stalls selling food, the inevitable pub crawl, the fun fair, and it’s completely free. In my opinion, it’s one of the best things about South East London.

But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why there’s a fireworks display in Blackheath every year? And why it’s always held around the 5^th of November? Well to find out I’ve come to the Houses of Parliament to ask a South-East Londoner who knows a lot about this sort of stuff, my Dad.

Dad has been working in the Palace of Westminster as an electrician for years. During that time wandering through the corridors of power with his screw driver and rawl plugs, he’s pretty much learnt everything there is to know about the history of our great country. So I asked him...

Me “Why do we celebrate the 5^th of November every year?”

Dad “Because it’s your cousins' birthday*?”

Me “Is that why Lewisham Council put on a free firework display on Blackheath Common?”

Dad “No, the fireworks in Blackheath are because of a Yorkshireman called Guy Fawkes."

Me “The actor?”

Dad “That’s Guy Pierce, Guy Fawkes was a Catholic, and an ex-soldier. He had fought in the eighty years war for Catholic Spain against the Protestant Dutch.”

Me “This is going to be long story isn’t it? More than 700 words and my readers will just switch off.”

Dad “I’ll keep it short. Basically he became involved with a small group of English plotters, who planned to assassinate the Protestant King James in 1605.”

Me “Was the plan to shoot him with a firework?”

Dad “No, they decided to kill King James by blowing up the House of Lords after he opened up Parliament. The plotters rented a house next to the House of Lords, and Guy and his mates managed to smuggle the gun powder into the cellar. Guy’s job was to guard the gun powder barrels before the big night."

Me “And did the plan work?”

Dad “No, the palace guards found him in the cellar with 36 barrels of gun powder.”

Me “Ooo, busted. How did he talk his way out of that one?”

Dad “He said he was building a music room for King James, and the barrels were for insulating the walls”

Me “Did it work?”

Dad “No, they knew he was lying. King James already used the cellar as a gym. Guy was sitting on his rowing machine when they caught him. So Guy and his friends were made to confess; and were then executed. And the British people have celebrated the foiling of the gun powder plot ever since, by having parties, making bonfires, and setting off fireworks, ever since.”

Well I can’t say I approve of executing people, or blowing things up, but I do love getting drunk on the heath and writing swear words in the air with sparklers. So I guess at least all that bloodshed wasn’t for nothing.

Blackheath Fireworks Display is tonight at 8pm. I look forward to seeing you there.

*Since writing this I’ve remembered that my cousins Kieran and Sam’s birthday is on the 4^th of November, not the 5^th. Sorry about that, I hate it when people, publish incorrect facts in their blogs.