This year we have visited the village of Smannell to ‘celebrate’ Guy Fawkes Night. Smannell is an ancient settlement and the name is thought to be derived from the old English name 'Smethenhyll' – “(at the) smooth hill', a reference to the gentle rise near Finkley farm. Apparently by 1652 the name was condensed to Smanhill and in 1810 the OS map is inscribed with the name Swanhill – is this a spelling mistake? But today the village is known as Smannell.
Our friends invited us for a cup of tea before we made our way up the road to the stubble field where Farmer Will had allowed the Little London playing field committee to build an enormous bonfire. Fairy lights lit the path to the cordoned off area where spectators would get the best view of the entertainment; and plenty of mulled wine, hotdogs and burgers were ready for consumption. We sipped at our polycups of wine, not allowed to eat as dinner awaited us at our friends’ house. The crowds gathered and the anticipation of the younger members was palpable. Soon the bonfire was lit and the rosy glow reflected off the cheery faces of the onlookers. I found a post on which to rest my camera and before long the chaps in charge of the fireworks signalled the start of the display with a swishing skyborn rocket. Then the fun began as rockets flew skywards, with or without sound effects – we used to call those noisy ones ‘bees’. Chrysanthemums of light filled the sky and oohs and aahs reverberated around the spectators. And suddenly it was all over, only leaving the bonfire glowing in the darkness and the opportunity of more mulled wine and sustenance to be partaken of! So it was back to the house for a delicious dinner with friends.
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