Blazing Barrels of Ottery

Ottery St Mary is renowned for its annual Carnival, fireworks display, the lighting of a monumental bonfire and the bearing of blazing barrels by men, women and children through the streets of this historic Devon town. This year the Carnival takes place on 31 October, while the tar barrels will be blazing a trail up and down the streets of Ottery on 5th November.

The tradition of the blazing barrels, borne on the back of brave and burley locals, spans hundreds of years and is presumed to have started after the gunpowder plot of 1605. It is a stunning spectacle, the like of which can’t be seen anywhere else in the UK, as Ottery is the town where full-sized blazing tar barrels are still paraded through the streets.

In total seventeen barrels are carried through the streets ranging in size from ‘small unz’ for the boys, ‘medium unz’ for women and youths, and ‘gert big unz’ for the men. The largest of the barrels is paraded around the town square at midnight, and marks the culmination of this extraordinary and enthralling tradition.

If you are looking for accommodation near Ottery St. Mary, why not try some of our hot properties around the area!