Cliffe Bonfire Society: Tradition, Defiance and the Spirit of Lewes

Among the historic bonfire societies that fill the streets of Lewes every 5 November, Cliffe Bonfire Society is one of the best known and most distinctive.

Founded in 1853, Cliffe has a long association with the Cliffe area of Lewes and with the town’s remarkable bonfire traditions. Its famous black-and-white striped guernseys are an instantly recognisable sight as members process through the streets carrying flaming torches, banners and tableaux.

Cliffe’s celebrations reflect the history commemorated by Lewes Bonfire. Alongside the traditional remembrance of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, the society honours the 17 Protestant martyrs burned in Lewes during the Marian persecutions of the sixteenth century. Their memory remains an important part of the symbolism and ceremony surrounding the town’s Fifth of November commemorations.

Costume also plays a major role in Cliffe’s identity. Its Pioneer groups are particularly striking, with the society traditionally associated with Viking and French Revolutionary dress, adding colour, theatre and a strong sense of history to the procession.

But Cliffe is much more than the spectacle of Bonfire Night. Like Lewes’s other societies, it depends upon members giving their time throughout the year to organise events, raise funds and prepare for the Fifth.

When the torches are lit and the procession begins, that work comes together in one of Lewes’s most memorable sights. Fiercely independent and deeply rooted in its community, Cliffe Bonfire Society remains a powerful expression of the town’s history, tradition and unmistakable bonfire spirit.