Ottery Tar Barrels 2024 timings, road closures and more

One of Devon's most iconic and fiery spectacles, the Tar Barrels display, is set to make a thrilling return tonight. The event will see crowds flocking to Ottery St Mary to watch locals carry enormous flaming barrels drenched in tar through the town.

The centuries-old tradition involves local men, women and children carrying full-sized lit tar barrels through the narrow streets of Ottery St Mary. The organisers of the event believe its origins may be traced back to the infamous gunpowder plot of 1605.

Over the years, the Tar Barrel event has transformed from placing Guy Fawkes atop a bonfire to rolling and carrying flaming barrels. Some suggest that this unique tradition stems from the practice of setting tar barrels alight to signal an impending invasion, specifically, the Spanish Armada.

Back in the sixteenth century, during a period of heightened tension in England due to a potential invasion by a Spanish fleet, a series of beacons were established along the coast. These beacons would be set ablaze upon sighting invaders.

Whether one subscribes to the belief that the Tar Barrel event originated from the Spanish invasion or the gunpowder plot, the event draws a large crowd each year.

Burning tar barrels was a common practice in many South West towns. There was a time when locals began running with the barrels on their backs, but before this, people would roll them down the main streets while they were aflame.

In Ottery, the tradition has been tweaked instead of ditched, with participants choosing to carry the barrels on their backs, a practice that has stood the test of time. The event usually takes place on November 5.

Tar-coated wooden barrels, previously used for sherry or cider, are set ablaze. Despite the name, "barrel rollers" don't roll the barrels; instead, they sprint through the streets with the flaming barrels on their backs.

Traditionally, barrel rollers opt out of modern fireproof gear, relying on makeshift protection consisting of hoodies, towels, and homemade gloves made from wire and hessian. Despite these precautions, barrel rollers often suffer severe burns to their hands and the back of their neck.

Road closures

Road closures come into force at two different times this year, the 1st at 3:30pm and 2nd at 5:00pm. All the closures coming into Ottery will be manned and blocked. There will be limited access for residents only to the following:

Toadpit Lane and Foxenhole via Bendarroch Road Only, Barrack Rd end of Toadpit lane will be closed.

King's Reach from West Hill or the Fluxton via Salston Cross.

Thorne Farm Way from West Hill or the Fluxton via Salston Cross along by King's Reach and right onto Barrack Rd and then into Thorne Farm Way.

Salston Barton from West Hill or the Fluxton via Salston Cross.

Organisers urge anyone traveling between Salston Cross and Thorne Farm Way to exercise extreme caution due to the extra pedestrians.

If you are a resident of King's reach, Thorne Farm Way and Salton Barton and arriving home after 5pm please ensure you have proof of your address with you so that our Marshalls can allow you through the road closure.

If you are unable to access your home please use the car parks provided, pay the £10.00, and ask for a receipt to be able to claim your money back. Or make prior arrangements to enable yourselves to leave or get back in time.

If any resident inside the road closures has an emergency and has to leave the town while the event is on there is a contact number to call: 07444897209. I must stress only in an emergency. We have all the resources at hand to help you should you require it.

If you use public transport, be aware that services will be disrupted and you should check with the service provider for details. There will be no additional late night buses if you are planning to travel in for the event by bus. Taxis and buses can Drop Off and Collect from Salston Cross and there will be lighting throughout Strawberry Lane.

The 3:30pm closure will affect the following streets and cul-de-sacs:

Jesu St at the Tip Hill Junction, Yonder St (Bridgefield) at the Slade Road and Furzebrook junction, Brook St at the Silver St junction, Sandhill St at the Cornhill Gold St junction, all the way through New Street on to the Furzebrook junction.

This closure will also affect New Lane below the Sunnyhill junction, Spring Gardens, Brookdale, Beauvale Close, Chapel Lane, Yonder Close, Plume of Feathers Close, Hollis Close and Batts Lane. This will enable the rest of the town to move freely around this area allowing the junior Tar barrels to start at 4:00pm.

The 5pm closure will affect the following streets:

Exeter Road, Barrack Road, Cadhay Lane, Fairmile Lane, Strawberry Lane, West Hill Road, Mill Street, Canaan Way, Hind Street, Broad Street, Silver Street, the Flexton, Cornhill, Paternoster Row, Gold Street, Tip Hill, Millcroft, Higher Spring Gardens, Gosford Road, Bendarroch Road, Toadpit Lane, Claremont Field, Thorne Farm Way, Hansford Way, Elliot Close, Godfrey Close, Ferguson Close and Taylor Close.

There is a free route around the town; Longdogs Lane, Slade Road, Chineway Road, Kennaway Road into Ridgeway onto North St and Butts Hill or vice versa.

Timings

The evening tar barrels will start from 7pm onwards and are not suitable for small children, animals or persons with limited mobility; it gets too crowded. Organisers will be placing barriers in the main barrel locations again this year for crowd control and to prevent overcrowding around the barrel rolling.

Parking

The main car park which is situated off Barrack Road, B3174. Access is available from the Daisy Mount exit of the A30. This Car Park will be available from 4pm on Tuesday 5th November 2024.

Car park 2 is located on Ottery garden centre, off Gosford Road follow map link below.Covid warnings

Organisers have also made arrangements this year for Taxi's, there will be two dropping off and collecting points, one at Salston Cross and one at the bottom of Butts Hill the town side of the Butts Rd junction, there will be signs to indicate this.

Bring cash

The official website also added: "As usual there will plenty of food stalls and bars at the event this year. Most of the traders can take card payments, however, internet signal can be unreliable and the town is limited on ATMs. We recommend you bring cash with you to avoid any disappointment."