Tar Barrels at Ottery St Mary: Fire, Tradition, and Community Spirit

Held every year on November 5th, the Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary is one of the UK’s most extraordinary—and intense—folk traditions. In this small Devon town, locals hoist flaming barrels of burning tar onto their shoulders and run them through the packed streets in a fiery spectacle that defies modern health and safety norms.

Believed to have originated in the 17th century, the event began as a way to ward off evil spirits or perhaps even as a form of gunpowder protest. Today, it’s a fiercely guarded tradition, handed down through generations of Ottery families. Each barrel is lit and carried by those born in the town—men, women, and even children—igniting not just tar, but pride, history, and adrenaline.

The Tar Barrels are more than a dramatic photo opportunity; they’re a rare expression of raw, living heritage—untamed, uncommercial, and wholly unique to this corner of rural England.