Tar-Barrel Carrying in Devon

(Also known as tar-barrel carrying, tar barell carrying, ottery St Mary, devon festival, devon festivals, guy fawkes celebration, tar barrel carrying, devon street party, barrel carrying guy fawkes, ottery festivals, ottery tar barrels, carrying tar-barrels)

When Monday 5th November - Guy Fawkes night

Where Ottery St Mary, Devon, South West of England.

Why Believed to first have occurred in 1688. A few theories are thrown around. Perhaps it is derived from an ancient Pagan ritual which cleansed the streets of evil spirits. Another theory lends itself to the idea of fumigation. This is the tradition of placing burning barrels in shops. The important thing is that the reason for this celebration has been lost in the tides of time and today it’s regarded as the best way to spend Guy Fawkes day & night.

Other more recent theories claim it is a modern drinking tradition born out of macho dares. Whatever the reason for tar-barrel carying this is one evening you don’t want to miss.

What Happens ?
17 Pubs throughout Ottery St. Mary sponsor a family / people to carry a barrel. There are events building up from boys, women & men. The crowds arrive for the men’s event. This is the most exciting event as the barrels are larger then in previous events. Also many of the men consume a little Dutch Courage before putting a burning tar barrel weighing 30 kilos on their shoulders.

Before the men’s event kicks off across the river Otter – just out of town, a huge bonfire is lit Locals argue it’s the biggest bonfire in the U.K. few would disagree. It’s an absolute infernal and serves a great purpose of keeping the town warm, be sure to position yourself upwind and don’t even try to go near it – it’s a monstrous flame.

The men’s tar-barrel carrying event is an amazing spectacle because the sheer size and shape of the barrel means they can’t lift their head up and thus have to have face pointing at the ground. This means that they stumble through the narrow crowd filled streets with fire dripping everywhere. As the barrel is passed from generation to generation the fire consumes more & more of the barrel and the bearers back ! burns and being knocked over are common drinking liabilities. This is a rite of passage for many families and no interference with any tar barrel carriers will be tolerated.

Lighting Tar Barrels Each tar barrel is lit in front of it’s sponsoring pub. The barells are hoisted onto the carriers back and he now has the liberty to roam through the crowds any direction he pleases. When he has had enough ploughing through the crowds he passes the burning barrel onto the next participant and the same sequence applies again – roam around around and pass it on.

This continues until it all becomes too much and the, to hot to handle, barrel is thrown to the ground. The barrel is now dragged if possible ! when the flames are almost out the crowd moves onto the next pub to light the next burning tar barrel. The circle of life repeats itself.

When a barrel is burnt out try to get a souvenir – the binding ring was my particular ring. I wore it like a sash. This resulted in grazes but well worth it.


DON’T MISS THIS Every barrel. Watch them all as you drink on the streets. Sometimes a carrier doesn’t want to pass his barrel on or else somebody might take a barrel without asking. This is a major no-no. The streets can assume pantomime scenes in seconds.





Dangers & Annoyances Don’t stand too close the barrel carriers as hot tar shots out when they turn around.

Train From London, leaves Waterloo and go to Honiton or Feniton station. Get a taxi from there into the town; the train trip will take about 2.5 hours

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