Guy Fawkes Day is annually celebrated on the 5th
of November, and marks the anniversary of the discovery of the Catholic
conspirators to blow up King James I, the Protestant elite and the Houses of Parliament, in London in 1605.
“Remember, remember the
5th of November, with gunpowder, treason and plot. I know of what reason why the gunpowder
treason should never be forgot”. These
words refer to Guy Fawkes, who as mentioned above, on
the 5th November 1605, was caught in the cellars of the
Houses of Parliament with several barrels of gunpowder.
But, unfortunately, in 1666, sixty-one years after the conspiracy, the Great Fire of London swept, mercilessly, through the central part of the medieval city, inside the old Roman walls. It destroyed 13.200 houses, umpteen churches including St Paul's Cathedral and most of the buildings of the City authorities. It is estimated that 70.000 homes of 80.000 citizens were burnt to ashes. A real tragedy As for the death toll, initially, it was thought to have been small, but later studies indicate that the "deaths of the poor and the middle-class residents were not recorded." The quintessence of democracy..... during the quagmire of English history......What can one say?
Incidentally, the aristocracy avoided the City and lived either in the countryside or in Westminster, today's West End. So, obviously, their houses were not affected by the fury of the flames of this colossal and devastating fire.
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| The Great Fire of London 1666 by Granger |
But, unfortunately, in 1666, sixty-one years after the conspiracy, the Great Fire of London swept, mercilessly, through the central part of the medieval city, inside the old Roman walls. It destroyed 13.200 houses, umpteen churches including St Paul's Cathedral and most of the buildings of the City authorities. It is estimated that 70.000 homes of 80.000 citizens were burnt to ashes. A real tragedy As for the death toll, initially, it was thought to have been small, but later studies indicate that the "deaths of the poor and the middle-class residents were not recorded." The quintessence of democracy..... during the quagmire of English history......What can one say?
Incidentally, the aristocracy avoided the City and lived either in the countryside or in Westminster, today's West End. So, obviously, their houses were not affected by the fury of the flames of this colossal and devastating fire.
 |
| A Medieval Panorama of London |
Throughout England, in cities, towns and villages Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated with huge bonfires and magnificent fireworks. An effigy, called Guy. made out of old clothes, stuffed with paper and straw are burnt all over England, and potatoes baked in foil, barbecued sausages and marshmallows and Parkin cake are offered as special Guy Fawkes treats.
Here is the recipe for Parking cake:
PARKIN CAKE
A delicious, sticky cake for Guy Fawkes Day.
200 g butter plus extra for the tin
1 large egg
4 tbsp milk
200 g golden syrup
85 g treacle
85 g light, soft brown sugar
100 g medium oatmeal
250 g self-raising flour
1 tbsp ginger powder
Preheat oven to 160 C (140 F) and butter a deep 22 cm square
cake tin with butter and line with baking parchment.
Whip the egg and milk together with a fork and set
aside. Gently melt the syrup, treacle,
sugar and butter together until the sugar has dissolved, and remove from the
heat. Mix together the oatmeal, flour
and ginger and stir into the syrup mixture.
Then stir the whipped egg and milk.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking tin and bake for 50 minutes to one hour or until the cake
feels firm and is crusty on top. Cool
in the tin and then wrap in baking parchment and foil. Keep for five days before eating;
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| A Hazy Panorama of Modern London |
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| A Bouquet of English Flowers Especially Picked for You, Dear Reader |
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