Which town in Devon is known for its tar barrel rolling on Bonfire Night?

Ottery St Mary in Devon is known for its tar barrel rolling on Bonfire Night.

The town’s annual Tar Barrels tradition is associated with Guy Fawkes Night and is thought to date from the 17th century. Barrels are soaked in tar, set alight and carried through the streets by residents, producing one of Britain’s most distinctive and hazardous fire festivals.

The evening traditionally includes separate events for children, young people and women before the men’s barrel run. Seventeen barrels are lit outside the town’s four public houses, and the largest can weigh up to about 30 kilograms. Carrying a burning barrel is generally restricted to people born in Ottery St Mary or those who have lived there for most of their lives.

The custom is sometimes confused with ordinary bonfires or other Devon celebrations, but the combination of flaming barrels carried through the town is particularly identified with Ottery St Mary. The event was cancelled in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and later resumed.