Sisters Jessica and Geri Wooff, aged 13 and seven, pictured at the 2006 Portland College bonfire and fireworks display in Mansfieldplaceholder image
Sisters Jessica and Geri Wooff, aged 13 and seven, pictured at the 2006 Portland College bonfire and fireworks display in Mansfield

Sparks, spuds, and sausages: A look back at our towns' best bonfires

As the crisp November air settles over Mansfield and Ashfield, a smoky wave of nostalgia drifts into view.

Decades ago, the lead-up to November 5th was defined by weeks of community hustle – local kids wheeling old sofas to the neighborhood waste ground and fiercely guarding their timber stash from rival streets.

From the massive crowds at Berry Hill Park to the tight-knit fires in the Ashfield pit villages, Bonfire Night was a time of itchy woolen mittens, foil-wrapped spuds, and a sky lit entirely by community magic.

Rekindle those memories and take a look back at our archive of old photos from bonfire night’s past.

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