Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels
West Country Traditions: Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels
It’s one of the oldest traditions in the county of Devon, and surely one of the most spectacular. Find out why the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels continues to draw in the crowds every Autumn…
What are the Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary?
The Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary is an ancient tradition believed to date back to the gunpowder plot. It involves tar-soaked barrels, weighing up to 30 kilos, being set alight outside the town’s pubs and then carried on the necks and shoulders of locals through the crowded streets.
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Is it dangerous?
Yes, it can be, however, the Tar Barrelers wear homemade gloves fashioned from wire and hessian to help protect their hands and their fitness and application is selectively scrutinised by a Tar Barrel Committee. There have been reports of minor injuries in the past, but the barrelers are well-drilled and know how to handle the flaming hogsheads. The event is also well-marshalled, with spectators reminded that by attending the festivities they’ve accepted the risks and remain responsible for their own actions.
Can anyone have a go?
Absolutely not. Firstly, you have to be a resident of the civil parish of Ottery St Mary, and secondly you have to get the green light from the Tar Barrel Committee; an entrusted group of town elders whose job it is to uphold the integrity of the tradition. Some of the participants have been running the tar barrels for decades, maintaining proud family traditions and cutting their teeth as young as seven.
When is it held?
The next Tar Barrels event has been organised for Tuesday 5th November and traditionally takes place on Guy Fawkes Night. You can expect crowds of ten thousand or more, so be warned, space is at a premium. Ottery St Mary is completely closed to traffic for the barrel running; parking is available only at the town’s five official car parks. The last barrel, known as ‘the midnight barrel’, will be run on Ottery Square, and the event thereafter is expected to have wound down by 1am.
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Is this a family event?
The high-spirited and jostling crowds that line the streets for the main tar barrel spectacle don’t make this a suitable gathering for young children, dogs, or for those with extra mobility needs. There are children’s barrels events run in the afternoon, and this is considered a quieter time for families to enjoy before the crowds begin to swell and the anticipation heightens. You can also expect a fun fair, plenty of street food, and lively pub celebrations.
What’s the history behind the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels?
No one’s entirely sure as to the exact history, but it’s widely believed that the origins of the Tar Barrels tradition lie in Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plot of 1605. Other theories align the burning barrels to the fumigation of local dwellings and the lighting of beacons to warn of the approach of the Spanish Armada. Some historians suggest that the running of burning barrels can be traced back to Pagan times. Torchlit processions have been commonplace in Devon down the centuries, but such feats of strength and bravery appear exclusive to the historic streets of Ottery St Mary, despite today’s hefty insurance costs which have often placed the event in jeopardy.
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