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POTWALLOPERS
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POTWALLOPING
Potwalloper is an old word meaning pot-boiler and describes a certain type of voter in the South West of England. If you had a separate hearth to cook a meal on (boil a pot) then you were eligible to vote. This term was swept away in the 1832 Reform Bill.
In Northam however being a “potwalloper” became linked with the right to free grazing on Northam Burrows. Although there is a lot of common land in England, Northam Burrows must be one of oldest. A document of 1068, after the Norman Conquest, gives the Manor of Northam to the Bishop of Caen and advises that the practise of allowing Commoners to have the Burrows for grazing should continue.
Every Whitsun during “Northam Revel” it became the custom to collect stones which had been flung over the burrows by the waves and to repair any breach in the Pebble Ridge. As a reward for their labours each “Potwalloper” received a generous supply of roasted ox and drink.
The custom died out but was revived in 1924 by the Northam Burrows Committee. In 1936, for the first time visitors were invited to take part, schoolboys from High Wycombe Grammar School (who were camping in the area) unemployed men who travelled long distances and holidaymakers all gathered together to join in. Farmers and builders brought their horses and carts and worked started. 50 carts were filled every hour and in the course of the day many thousands of pebbles had been carted and dumped at the top of the ridge.
The work was deemed necessary because maps showed that the Pebble Ridge had receded 66 feet in 30 years.
The Burrows committee provided
24lbs of ham
20lbs of cheese
30 loaves of bread
18 gallons of cider
18 gallons of beer
Today the council look after the Pebble Ridge which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a wonderful natural sea defence.
Potwalloping Festival is still held at the same time every year with lots of entertainment (but no stone throwing!)
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