Few rural traditions have lived for over 120 well-documented years.

Even fewer have followed basically the same format and I suspect even fewer are still held in exactly the same location.

Even more amazing is that bonfire night could have been celebrated on Brockham Green for many years prior to 1880. Our village green was granted Common Land status and was obviously the centre of village life way back in 1812 when 'Brockham's Act of Parliament' was passed. Long before Christ Church was built and Betchworth Castle was still occupied!

The annual Brockham Bonfire is a marvellous tradition, renowned for getting the community together in building a monster bonfire on the village green.

Held on the nearest Saturday to November 5th (traditionally Guy Fawkes night) it attracts thousands of visitors. It's a great party and raises much money for local charities. What is particularly impressive is all the time given by so many people in organising the event and particularly building the fire - it is huge and takes weeks to build.

Rumour has it that it appeared in the Guinness book of records at one stage but this is not the case unfortunately. About fifteen years ago the Guinness book of records described a bonfire made in circa 1920 of 120 feet high.

The famous 1990 bonfire was about 40 feet high (leaning, which was always going to be a problem), but the top slid off. Therefore the height has since been restricted to 25 feet.

Tony Hines MBE

Chairman

Brockham Bonfire Limited

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