“Remember, Remember, the 5th of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot” – but what do we really know about the events of 1605 that created our modern bonfire night celebrations? This talk details the background as to why dissident factions sought to assassinate King James I and the entire British establishment by blowing up Parliament during the State Opening.

It tells who was behind the plan, how the conspirators were recruited and who they all were. Specifically, who was that most famous of the plotters, Guy Fawkes himself, where did he come from and how did he become involved in the conspiracy?

It tells why the plot failed, the discovery of Fawkes with the gunpowder and the final capture of the rest of the plotters, their trial and subsequent executions.

It discusses whether the plot could have succeeded and examines a modern-day re-construction of the planned explosion and what the result would have been.