Fireworks in Britain
Almost everyone loves a good firework display, particularly during the darker months. The British have enjoyed these spectacles from at least the late 1400s.
The origins of fireworks can be traced back to 7th century China. China is where gunpowder was first used, and at this time, pyrotechnics experts were as valuable to Chinese rulers as the best war generals.
Gunpowder didn’t make its way to England until the 13th century; the Arabs gained knowledge of gunpowder from China around the year 1240, after which point the secret quickly spread around the region and into Europe. It is thought that Roger Bacon, a monk, was the first person in the UK to use gunpowder, as there have been discoveries of various documents where he charts his experiments, including one from 1242 where he writes that, “…you will get thunder and lightning if you know the trick.”
Although fireworks were probably used in the UK from the late 13th century onwards, they didn’t become popular until at least 200 years later. The first documented use of fireworks in the UK is at the wedding of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, in 1486. The marriage marked the union of the long-sparring Yorkist and Lancastrian families, bringing peace after years of dynastic war. A suitable occasion for a pyrotechnic party!
During the reign of Elizabeth I, fireworks became popular across the country. In fact, the Queen herself was such a huge lover of fireworks that she appointed a ‘Fire Master’ to oversee royal displays.
A number of Shakespeare’s plays mention the use of fireworks, which indicates that they were widely known and in use throughout his lifetime.
Of course, the most common association many in the UK make with fireworks is to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 - celebrated these days with firework displays on or around 5th November. Originally, the date was celebrated with bonfires after Londoners were invited to light them in 1605 as a means of celebrating the failure of the Plot. Fireworks became part of the festivities from the 1650s.
Further reading
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