Gunpowder plot shock waves still felt
Imagine this scenario: A bomb-plot by a radical religious group aiming to kill the country’s leader and top politicians is foiled by soldiers. In shock, the government of the day passes new laws aimed at restricting the activities of such groups, and tightens security. Conspirators face the courts - and harsh penalties. Sound familiar?
While you might think you were reading a rehash of last week’s newspapers, this terror plot took place 1605, as English Catholics hatched a radical plan to oust what they considered a repressive regime. The plan failed, but the man who was to light the fuse that would kill the king and parliamentarians that night was Guy Fawkes. Together with his co-conspirators, Fawkes was later found guilty of high treason and received the harshest punishment of the day – death by hanging, drawing and quartering.
Catholics suffered many recriminations after the failed plot – they could not vote in local or parliamentary elections until 1829, were banned from practising law and could not serve in the Army or Navy. Though Guy Fawkes’ involvement was minor, people all over the world still enjoy fireworks in his name some four hundred years later.
New Brighton Pier focus of events
 Christchurch’s biggest fireworks show takes place at New Brighton Pier. The pier has long been a focus for entertainment in the city, with the original pier opening in 1894. The pier was the backdrop for nine-mile (14.9km) motorbike races, and scores of sunbathers and swimmers were among the regular visitors to the beach. On November 1 the 300-metre structure celebrates its 10th anniversary of its official opening. While the original pier had more than 100 wooden piles, the new structure has just 17. Read more about the pier, or view historic photographs of New Brighton.
Busy time for fire service
Spare a thought for the Fire Service on Guy Fawkes Day. This graph shows how the number of callouts increased during the fireworks sales period in 2006. The rules for sales of fireworks changed this year in a bid to improve safety for people, pets and property. The Guy Fawkes FAQ includes information on regulations and details on how to keep pets safe. And in a snippet of local history, it was on Guy Fawkes Day in 1979 that the Regent Theatre burnt down. The theatre was built in what was originally called The Royal Exchange building and re-opened in 1981.
Resource of the week: Armistice Day - November 11
 Armistice Day – 11 November – marks the anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War (1914-1918). On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, two minutes’ silence marks the moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front in 1918. The silence is observed in memory of the New Zealanders who died serving their country.
The RSA site has information on Armistice Day and its history. See also Passchendaele and our resources about New Zealanders in World War 1.
Photo: Returned soldiers pass through Cathedral Square, Christchurch 1917
We recommend: Guy Fawkes resources
Our online resources:
Our Internet Gateway recommends:
Browse the resources in our libraries:
- Gunpowder – a history of the explosive mixture
- Fireworks and firecrackers
- New Brighton – historical titles relating to Christchurch’s seaside suburb
- Guy Fawkes 1570 - 1606
- The Gunpowder Plot 1605
- New Brighton Library Local History Files:
- Greenaway, R.L.N. History of New Brighton Pier . “A Seaside Item Which Never Really Succeeded” Article in the Press 22 May, 1976 p.11
Other online resources
Next week - Cycling
It's environmentally friendly, good for fitness and a cheap way to travel. Christchurch's flat geography also lends itself well to cycling - so next week we'll look at the greenest transport there is. |
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Guy Fawkes page