Pebble Ridge
Coast erosion
Westward Ho!Pebble ridge defenceCoast erosion
Includes Hartland district Westward Ho! Coast Erosion 1948M.P.'s questions to Minister of Health
Anxiety Over Weakness in Pebble Ridge 1954"Danger gap filled" assures Surveyor
Coast Defence: Three Local Interests Confer 1958£11,000 plan for groynes mentioned
Pebble Ridge Pushed Back Five Feet In a Year 1960Ministry expert visiting shortly
The Battle of the Gap!damage caused by high tide, whipped by gales
Boulder Scheme Moves into Second Phase 1983£45,000 coast protection scheme
CustomAugust Bank Holiday
Sea Breaches Wall at Appledore 1982Heavy seas whipped up by fierce winds
No Breakwater for West Appledore 1975it cannot be provided
Pebble RidgeCoast erosion
Coast erosion - "fair and frank discussion" 18th March 1960 - Coastal Defence
Much good could come from a meeting between council sub-committee and the Lords of the Manor where a fair and frank discussion on the position relating to the Pebble Ridge and the Burrows, Mr J W Martin (chairman) told Northam Urban Council.
All were gratfeful to Mr Percy Browne, MP for his prompt assistance in the matter, and the Ministry official who visited the locality at short notice "to see what our troubles are."
When Rev A E Green enquired whether there would be a report from the sub committee, the clerk, Mr A Gardner, said that the matter could be discussed more fully by the General Purposes Committee.
Westward Ho!Pebble ridge defenceCoast erosion
Work on Westward Ho! coast protection 21st October 1949
Coast protection work at Westward Ho! was to commence as soon as possible, Northam Urban District Council were told at their meeting. The preliminary work will involve the construction of groynes for the protection of the gap at the south end of the Pebbleridge and filling in with pebbles removed from the accumulation to the south-west.
Clerk, Mr F W Hockaday reported the firm were ready to start the work. Mr G W G Hutchings said he was pleased to note something is being done. Mr T Fulford complained that the council were "rather in the air" at the moment as to how much money they would have to find themselves. Mr H V Cope asked if it was not time the Ministry were told the work was about to commence on the coast erosion scheme and asked how much grant would be forthcoming.
Rev A E Green asked how much would the council be prepared to pay, he was not hoping for much more than a 75 per cent grant.
Includes Hartland district
Details of proposals for the reorganisation of the Coastguard Service throughout the country, including a total reduction in complement of 179, which are to be discussed by representatives of the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Service Union of which coastguards are members, were recently released.
The Hartland district is planned to include Port Isaac, Boscastle, Bude, Morwenstow, Hartland, Clovelly, Lundy, Westward Ho!, Croyde, Mortehoe, Ilfracombe and Porlock.
Strength would be reduced from six station officers and 16 coastguards to 3 and 12 respectively.
Among proposed changes in types of station are: constant watch to constant night watch, Ilfracombe; constant watch to occasional look-out, Westward Ho!; constant watch to occasional look-out, Croyde.
Members of the Civil Service Union are concerned at the proposals which, they state, must increase the danger to yachts and other small craft and pleasure vessels.
To obtain the strongest case to present at its meeting with the...
Westward Ho! Coast Erosion 1948M.P.'s questions to Minister of Health
Westward Ho! Coast Erosion 11.05.1948
Coastal Defence. M.P.'s questions to Minister of Health Mr Aneurin Bevan, Delay in starting the work, estimated cost of £95,000, Brig. CHM Peto, M.P. for North-West Devon, Mr FW Hockaday
Anxiety Over Weakness in Pebble Ridge 1954"Danger gap filled" assures Surveyor
Anxiety Over Weakness in Pebble Ridge 22.10.1954
Coastal Defence. Appledore and Barnstaple would be the places threatened if the sea broke through Westward Ho! pebbleridge at the point where erosion was taking place between the fifth groyne and the Bailey Bridge. Mr GWG Hutchings, Mr A Brewer, Mr S Guard, Mr FW Hockaday, Mr TG Parsons, Rev AE Green, Mr J Heywood, Mr HV Cope, Mr CR Mill
Coast Defence: Three Local Interests Confer 1958£11,000 plan for groynes mentioned
Coast Defence: Three Local Interests Confer 10.10.1958
Coastal Defence. £11,000 plan for groynes. Northam Urban Council, Northam Burrows Committee, the Lords of the Manor. Mr JE Boyles, met to discuss coast protection at Westward Ho! and Appledore as far as it affects the Burrows. Mr LB Galliford, Mr W Gale, Mr HJ Bishop, Mr C Clarke, Mr MWV Richards
Pebble Ridge Pushed Back Five Feet In a Year 1960Ministry expert visiting shortly
Pebble Ridge Pushed Back Five Feet In a Year 19.02.1960
Coastal Defence. Ministry expert Col Gilbert visiting shortly. Part of the Pebble Ridge at Westward Ho! has moved back five feet in the past twelve months. Mr JC Dobbs, Mr A Gardner, Mr Percy Browne M.P. for Torrington
The Battle of the Gap!damage caused by high tide, whipped by gales
The Battle of the Gap 19.01.1962
Coastal Defence. The breach in the Pebble Ridge near Sandymere. Damage at Westward Ho!. Gusts of over 100 mph.
Boulder Scheme Moves into Second Phase 1983£45,000 coast protection scheme
Boulder Scheme Moves into Second Phase 28.01.1983
Coastal Defence. Huge granite boulders were tipped in front of Westward Ho! sea wall this week as part of the second phase of a £45,000 coast protection scheme. Mr Richard Brasington
CustomAugust Bank Holiday
Pebble ridge potwalloping
Littlejohns, Keats, Larner, Yeoman, George Glover
North Devon harbours some odd customs and this was one of them - potwalloping. It was the day locals and holidaymakers turned out in force to throw back pebbles on to the famour pebbleridge at Westward Ho! after storms and high tides had scattered them on to the Burrows. Potwallopers were not paid for their labour but free beer and cider were provided to quench thirsts and turn the occasion into something of a celebration.
Our two pictorial oldies, discovered by chance in a Bideford bric-a-brac shop, takes us back to between the wars when potwalloping on August Bank Holiday was at its heyday. The custom died out in the early 1960s. Readers may recognise parents or grandparents and, hopefully, come up with a few names. One thing is certain - the ladies and kids were definitely not dress for toil.
Littlejohns, Wilkey
Sea Breaches Wall at Appledore 1982Heavy seas whipped up by fierce winds
Sea Breaches Wall at Appledore 19.03.1982
Coastal Defence. Heavy seas whipped up by fierce winds breached the sea wall at Appledore on Saturday morning. Irsha Street. Mrs Lilian Wood, Sydney Wood
No Breakwater for West Appledore 1975it cannot be provided
No Breakwater for West Appledore 27.06.1975
Coastal Defence. The suggestion that a breakwater should be built from the lifeboat slip to Big Rock opposite the Royal George. Cllr Joe Need, Mr Clive Barber