C
Cliffe · 1853
Cliffe Bonfire Society
Rooted in Cliffe, with black-and-white smugglers and the motto Nulli Secundus.
Thursday 5 November 2026
Lewes Bonfire
Firelight, remembrance and neighbourhood tradition: six main Fifth societies, with Nevill Juvenile completing Lewes's seven-society story.
Important: Visit Lewes describes Bonfire as an event for local residents and asks people not to travel into the town to spectate. Check current official travel and safety advice before making any journey on 5 November.
The LewesLive guide
Understand the Fifth — and check before you travel
Lewes Bonfire is not one municipal display. It is a town-wide tradition of separate societies, processions, remembrance, costume, fire and fireworks — and one of the most distinctive nights in the Sussex calendar.
The six adult societies organise the main Fifth celebrations. Nevill Juvenile Bonfire Society is the seventh Lewes society and holds its celebration separately. LewesLive brings the enduring history together with practical current information for residents and anyone researching the event. Event-night access is heavily managed, so current official travel and safety advice takes priority over general visitor planning.
Why Lewes remembers
History carried through the streets
The Fifth in Lewes brings together remembrance of the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, the seventeen Protestant martyrs executed in Lewes between 1555 and 1557, and the town's own long tradition of Bonfire societies.
Seventeen burning crosses commemorate the martyrs. The War Memorial gives the evening another solemn focus as societies remember those who died in war. Around that remembrance sit the colours, costumes, banners and rival identities of the societies themselves.
The seven Lewes societies
Seven identities. One town.
Tap a society card to focus its approximate home area on the map, then follow the society links for programmes, traditions and current information.
CS
Commercial Square · 1855
Commercial Square
Black-and-gold smugglers, a central-Lewes identity and the motto For Independence.
B
Lewes Borough · 1847
Lewes Borough
The society's own history dates it to 1847; its Monster Iron Key is one of Lewes Bonfire's most recognisable symbols.
SO
Southover · 1886 · reformed 2005
Southover
Based around historic Southover and the Priory, with the motto Advance!.
SS
South Street · 1913
South Street
Born as a juvenile society and still closely identified with South Street and the Railway Land.
W
Waterloo · re-formed 1964
Waterloo
A central Lewes society with red-and-white colours and a documented re-formation in 1964.
N
Nevill Juvenile · 1967
Nevill Juvenile
The seventh Lewes society, representing the Nevill Estate and celebrating separately from the main Fifth.
Explore Lewes
Society home areas
Use the map to understand where the societies are rooted around Lewes; check current society programmes for the year's procession details and firesites.
In pictures
The atmosphere of the Fifth
These are existing LewesLive site images. New third-party photographs will only be added where creator and reuse rights can be stated clearly.
Safety-first planning
Four things to know before the Fifth
Visit Lewes describes Bonfire as a local-residents event and asks people not to travel into the town to spectate. Check the latest official advice before setting out.
Dense crowds, firelight, smoke, flashing light and loud explosions are integral to the event and may be unsuitable for some people.
Programmes, procession details and firesite arrangements are society-specific and can change. Follow first-party society information for the latest details.
Bonfire is a living local tradition and a complex public-safety operation. Give processions room and follow steward, police and transport instructions.
Trusted references
Where LewesLive checks Bonfire information
Visit LewesCurrent local-resident, travel and safety guidance ↗Lewes & Eastbourne CouncilsLocal-authority event and street information ↗Lewes Bonfire CelebrationsDeep independent archive and society references ↗Lewes Borough Bonfire SocietyFirst-party society history and current information ↗
LewesLive method: Search → Corroborate → Classify → Communicate. Current event-night details are checked afresh so the guide stays useful and up to date.