Westward Ho! Potwalloping Festival

The fabulous Potwalloping Festival dates back to the 1800's, where local people ventured down to Westward Ho! beach to throw back pebbles that had fallen from the ridge during the winter storms. This is still performed today, but has developed into a larger event with displays, local crafts, stalls and entertainment.

Potwalloping is an old custom whereby residents of the borough of Northam, in order to protect their grazing rights, would throw back pebbles which had been washed down, onto the pebble ridge. The pebble ridge is an almost unique geological structure, there being only one other like it in the world. This debris is taken up by the force of the sea and progressively swept towards the beach at Westward Ho! The buffeting from the surf gradually wears down the original angular blocks, which would have been more orange in colour initially, to the rounded grey pebbles that form the ridge. Evidence of their use as building material can be seen in some of the cottage walls in the area. Without the ridge the sea would wash in across the Northam Burrows and the land would be totally lost.
For some time, management of the ridge and the prevention of flooding was the responsibility of those residing in the area. All those who possessed two hearths in their house were considered relatively wealthy and entitled to grazing rights on the Burrows. In return, they had to help restore the pebble bank after the spring tides. This restoration work be came know as “potwalloping”.
“Potwalloping became more of a day out. Cider would be laid on and there was a holiday atmosphere connected to it. Gradually, though, the numbers of people involved declined until it died out. In 1995 the chairman of Westward Ho! Chamber of Commerce, and the then secretary, the late Mike Portsmouth decided that perhaps the Chamber could run a Potwalloping Festival within the village. The charitable organization, the Lions, have run the event now for eight years and this will be our ninth. Last year the community association WHISH (Westward Ho! Information Shop) became involved and helped to secure funds for sustaining the Festival.