Nostalgia: Tar Barrels from 1997 - Part 1

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Preparations are being finalised for this year’s Ottery Tar Barrels evening at the weekend and we’ve been looking at pictures from the 1997 event we found in the Herald’s picture archive. Have a browse through our flaming big gallery and keep an eye out for more pictures from 1997 posted here as we head towards this year’s big night on Saturday, 4 November.

More pictures here: Tar Barrels from 1997 - Part 2, Part 2, Part 3.

More: Read our essential guide to this year’s event here - Ottery Tar Barrels 2017 what you need to know. To see more from the Herald’s picture archive, join our Facebook nostalgia page, Devon Memories. You can order reprints from these photos through our photo ordering site here - a great idea for Christmas time.

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Tar Barrel Night 1997. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archive (Image: Copyright 2002)