Remember, remember the fifth of November. Gunpowder, treason and plot...

Every year on 5 November, the English celebrate Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire Night) marking the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up Parliament.

In 1605, early in the reign of James I, Catholics in England were angered to find that he tolerated Catholicism no more than Elizabeth I had previously. A group of men decided that violent action was needed. Led by Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes and eleven others formulated the Gunpowder Plot. The scheme involved installing 36 barrels of gunpowder beneath the House of Lords, and igniting them when the King and Peers were in session. However the plot was discovered and Guy Fawkes was captured when the authorities raided the cellar. He was subsequently publicly burned and the other conspirators were captured and executed.

Every year since, bonfire and fireworks' displays all over the country have been used to celebrate the failure of the plot, and traditionally on the opening of Parliament the basements of the House of Lords are checked before the arrival of the monarch.

The stamp below illustrating Parliament was issued in September 1975 for the 62nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference stamps.

Illustration

12p stamp of the Houses of Parliament