The first crude formulations of gunpowder used by the Chinese almost 2000 years ago had limited explosive power. They used it to make the first fireworks – Chinese crackers – which produced a loud bang and a little flash, perfect for livening up celebrations and warding off evil spirits.

It was some centuries later, around 600AD, that they began to experiment with gunpowder as a weapon, packing it into ‘rockets’ which were propelled at their enemies. Relatively weedy, these early rockets were probably used to create ‘shock and awe’ rather than as ‘weapons of mass destruction’. The serious military use of gunpowder came much later with the development of cannons and the more highly explosive ‘cannon powder’in 16th Century Europe, but that’s a different story.

From their origin in the Far East, fireworks began to move westwards, and were used in the 7th Century by Arabs, from where they were brought back to Europe by Crusaders (though some sources claim that Marco Polo was responsible). For a long time the Italians were undisputed leaders in firework development and produced ‘fire-fountains’ spinning ‘fire-wheels’ and the earliest shell-like ‘pyrotechnic rockets’ with loud bangs and bright aerial explosions of the type we have today, using them mostly for military and religious celebrations. For a long time the colours were limited to yellow and orange and early fireworks displays would probably seem rather tame to us now, but we can hardly imagine how exciting and impressive they must have been to audiences back then. In the reign of Elizabeth I (1533-1603) the popularity of fireworks really took off and exploded. Elizabeth created the position of ‘Fire Master of England’, James II loved fireworks so much that he had his Fire Master knighted, and Shakespeare makes reference to fireworks in his plays.

As years progressed, firework technology advanced and Fire Masters learned tricks such as setting off fireworks from platforms over water so that more noise and light was reflected back at the audience. In the 16th and 17th Centuries fireworks were often loaded into large model dragons made from wooden frames covered in papier-mâché scales, which breathed fire and could be moved around on wheels; very popular were battles where two dragons would fight it out together with flames. By the 18th Century firework displays had become huge public events drawing enormous crowds, and were often carefully orchestrated set-pieces accompanied by music.

One of the most famous 18th Century displays was held in England to celebrate the end of the War of the Austrian Succession in 1748. King George I commissioned George Friedrich Handel to compose a symphony for the event (‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’) and an enormous, elaborate stage-set was created, taking four months to build. Leading Italian stage designers and pyrotechnicians were brought in and 25 tons of fireworks were produced, to be set off by a team of expert English Fire Masters. Amid mounting public excitement, the music-only dress rehearsal in Vauxhall Park drew a crowd of 12,000 and was a great success. Expectations were high for the main event, held six days later in Green Park, but it turned out to be a disaster. Just before the show the main pavilion burned down. Then a rain shower made the fireworks damp and there were violent disagreements between the Italians and English Fire Masters, so that only a small proportion of the thousand fireworks actually went off. There were several accidents which resulted in two deaths and injuries to staff and spectators (through falling, fire and drowning). Although musically the evening was a success, the great show itself turned out to be a damp squib.

Today East Sussex and Kent are famous for their extravagant and enthusiastic bonfire celebrations, staggered over the course of several weeks so that the many local bonfire societies can come together to celebrate. This year’s event in Hastings (on October 13th and shown on this month’s cover, where we watched outside The Stag on All Saints Street) was a great success, and we hope that the celebrations in Battle (November 3rd) and Lewes (November 5th) are as fantastic as they usually are. Whatever you’re doing, we hope you have a good and safe fireworks night, and for dogs, who are generally less enthusiastic about the event, we recommend ‘Calm Dawg’ biscuits from the wonderful The Dawg’s Biscuits shop on Norman Road, St Leonards (www.dog-treat.co.uk or see our feature in September’s issue).