Hatherleigh Carnival and Tar Barrels is another flaming success

Huge crowds gathered to witness a historic Devon 'flaming tar barrels' event. Hatherleigh Carnival is steeped in tradition and it proved to be another roaring success this weekend.

The first run of the blazing tar barrels took place at 5am yesterday, November 9, followed by a second run at 7.30pm. The barrels are pulled up by the children of the town and surrounding areas on the Friday night unlit and then at 5am the first set of barrels are pulled ablaze through the streets of Hatherleigh to the market. The second set is then pulled along the same route after the carnival procession is over and has been cleared.

The day also included a children's procession, and main procession of carnival floats. Among those who attended the carnival was local PCSO Debbie Hollinson.

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On X, formerly known as Twitter, she shared a video of what she described as a 'crazy' experience.

She said: "The finale - Hatherleigh Carnival flaming tar barrels. I’ve never seen anything like this first hand! Thoroughly enjoyed the experience even if it was a bit crazy! Look forward to working towards next years!"

Hatherleigh Carnival is believed to have first started in 1903 and was held on the first Wednesday in November as a set off to the old November 5 celebration when it was originally called the Hatherleigh and Meeth Hospital Association Carnival. Its aim was to raise money for residents hospital care, before the days of the NHS.

This tradition has been maintained and the profits made are donated to various national and local charities. The flaming tar barrels, date back much further than 100 years, some say pagan times when effigies of townsfolk who had erred in the previous year were made and then burnt.

The Friday night celebrations have maintained some of the pagan essences when locals impersonate other townsfolk in a light hearted manner. Hatherleigh Silver Band lead the unlit tar barrels, pulled by the children of the town, to Oakfield Road.

In recent years, the day of the carnival had to be moved from a Wednesday to a Saturday and the actual route of the procession has been slightly altered, but these are about the only changes over the past 100 years.

The present Tar Barrel Sub Committee was formed in 2005 who work alongside the main carnival committee. The aim of the sub committee is to raise funds to “keep the barrels burning” for future generations.

In previous years the committee members have taken part in a barrel pull, in which they pull the unlit barrels around a circuit and collect money from people who pass by. Each year the members of the Tar Barrel Sub Committee wear official T-shirts, a different colour each year.

These are given to committee members once they have attended the health and safety briefing. Only people who have attended this briefing and are wearing the t-shirts can pull the burning tar barrels on carnival day. Around seven gallons of tar is used to cover the barrels many times over.