The Fenny Poppers

The Fenny Poppers are six small ceremonial canons ( cast iron mugs stuffed with gunpowder) which are fired ceremonially every Nov 11 th. It is believed they were first fired in 1740.

All six poppers were re-cast in 1859, after one of them burst. It is these that are still used today and they were recently examined and x-rayed to ensure they have no cracks. During their long history, many sites have been used for this battery.

The poppers each weigh about 19 pounds (8.5kg). The bore, 6” by 1”(152mm x 44mm) will take one ounce (28g) of gunpowder, which is plugged with well rammed newspaper. They are fired three times on St. Martin’s Day (11 November); noon, 2.00pm and 4.00pm precisely. In1901 they were fired to mourn the death of Queen Victoria, the 81 salutes were heard as far away as Olney. On the 1 st January 2000 at 11.00am the Poppers were fired to mark the beginning of the second Millenium.