I moved up to Sheffield in Sept 2001 from living in Southampton all my life. I can honestly say I LOVE it up here. Everyone has made me feel so welcome. I now call Sheffield my home and Southampton is the place where my family live. Thanx to the Yorkshire folk whose made my life more welcoming.

Thanks Cazza,

half of my family live in the south too. I did try living down there once, but although in places it was beautiful it just wasn't home.

Glad you are enjoying it up here.

Moon

I'm from Sheffield, but currently working "down south". I live in Essex (It's all true!!) and work in the city. I can't wait to come home to Sheffield.

People down here are not as friendly. Many are very ignorant - an example - a woman told me the other day that Birmingham was up north somewhere - near Manchester. This is quite common unfortunately. Anything past Watford and they're clueless.

Tons of people, after hearing I'm from Sheffield, say "it's grim oop north" in some Hovis-bread-advert-type-accent. Most have never been "oop" north, never mind Sheffield! Personally, I think London is the grimiest place on earth. It's soulless.

Hopefully I'll be back by September - I can't wait.

I have been browsing all morning (great forum by the way!), and just spotted this thread. I had to join to say I totally agree!

I moved to Sheffield (Stocksbridge area) in 2000 from Kent, and haven't looked back. I love being here, and don't envisage ever moving back down south by choice. Hubby is Sheffield born and bred, and tried living in Kent for a few years, but this feels more like home for us both.

Asmo

Originally posted by Asmo
I have been browsing all morning (great forum by the way!), and just spotted this thread. I had to join to say I totally agree!

I moved to Sheffield (Stocksbridge area) in 2000 from Kent, and haven't looked back. I love being here, and don't envisage ever moving back down south by choice. Hubby is Sheffield born and bred, and tried living in Kent for a few years, but this feels more like home for us both.

Asmo


I moved up from Gravesend in Kent about 5 years ago, and I wouldn't move back.

In Kent if you want a good job you have to commute to London, plus all the specialist hospitals and good entertainment is all in London.

In Sheffield these things are on my doorstep. I swapped a 2 hour commute to london for a 20 minute walk to work!

I agree that the north is a better, more friendly place but i've lived in Blackburn, Cambridge and now Sheffiled and i have to say that some people in the north have a real chip on their shoulder. They slag of southerns mainly because they have an inferiority complex. I think there is some bitterness about the fact that there is so much focus on London. Just for the record i was born up here and am not a southern myself.

I moved down south in 1983. Ten thousand miles south so you are all northerners to me. Its a sacrifice you have to make if you are just an ordinary working man and want a decent standard of living and a bit of sunshine.
Thanks Maggie Thatcher

You can't blame Thatcher for the lack of sunshine!:confused:

Is there, in any of your opinions a north/south divide or has it been devised by the powers that be to separate us?

I must say that as a northerner I am biased but I have met some really nice 'southerners' on holidays abroad. On the whole I think that we ( northerners ) are more down-to-earth and the southerners a little more 'reserved'. That is not a bad thing.

We pay less for our houses but get paid less. Our contemporories are better paid on the whole but pay the price in the cost of living.


What are your views/experiences on the north/south debate?
:loopy:

Originally posted by missb
We pay less for our houses

Yes, but the gap is starting to close - after reading in the "Sheffield Property Guide" - the one where "Property" is written in blue, it claims that the gap is closing on prices, with prices rising in the north... (hunts for their site)... they don't have one; I think the figures were something like 2.85% rise in the north, with only a 1.89% rise down (here) in the South.

An I.e: S6 - a normal, reasonable p/code prefix - yes?
Picked this one out: http://www.winkworth.co.uk/propsearch/furtherdet.asp?fCurrPage=6&sArea=%27*%27%2C%27CHP%27%2C%27HIB%27%2C%27WOD%27% 2C%27SDF%27%2C%27SHS%27&submitfrom=agentSearch&searchusing=as&sSType=buy&sMinPrc=100000&sMaxPrc=200000&sPType=H&sMinRm=3&sMaxRm=3&CHP=on&HIB=on&WOD=on&SDF=on&SHS=on&Submit32=Submit&propref=WNKHIB2120
Our answer to S6 prefix (Bexleyheath DA7): picture herer (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/amhudson119/spec1.jpg) details here (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/amhudson119/spec2.jpg)

Give or take a bit - nearly a £100k differance.

Alex

All the traffic goes nuts when you get south of Oxford (the start of the NSD)

As an asylum seeker from the south, I came here looking for nice people, drinkable tap water, more affordable housing and lower population density.

It's all worked out beautifully (famous last words)

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
All the traffic goes nuts when you get south of Oxford (the start of the NSD)

As an asylum seeker from the south, I came here looking for nice people, drinkable tap water, more affordable housing and lower population density.

It's all worked out beautifully (famous last words)
Amen... don't think I could have put it better...

Most of all though the striking difference up here is that people have TIME for each other...

My mother is a southerner. Whilst she loves the area and the people up here she just cannot stand the cold (with climate changes at the moment I think most northerners have forgotten what that is)
Anyway when I went to live with her near Crawley a few years ago I found the place lonely. I have a habit of picking accents up quickly and my employers noted I was starting to sound more southern, so it wasn't a case of sticking out like a sore thumb. People just didn't talk to you. In the shops, on the streets, it was awful.

Also my sisters live in Hastings, apart from the place being a dump people are quite friendly..couldn't live there though. They are craming as many houses as they can into a small a space as possible...no idea where their green areas are.

I am a Yorkshire lass...I love my hills and moors and noisy but friendly folk.

Moon

I've always been of the opinion that there's definitely a divide between Northerners and Southerners.

Because in the past I've been insulted by Southerners because of my strong Yorkshire-ese dialect etc.

And they've also slagged me off personally for coming from Sheffield and that they thought anywhere North of Watford Gap was full of scumbags.

WTF?!

I actually had more than a few words with a guy when I was away on holiday. He was from London and couldn't be more up himself. He was talking to 2 lasses, saying how much he hated Northerners and if he found out a girl he was talking to was from up North he wouldn't give her the time of day.

Quite ironic, seeing as the 2 girls was talking to were from Doncaster :loopy:

Still, I took offense, and he knew about it. Fair enough if he wants to be proud of where he comes from.. but that doesn't give him the right to slate everyone else.

........................................

I remeber I was on a activity course with school once. There were kids from all over the British Isles. We had three lads from London who were complete lazy and miserable so and sos. Why on earth they decided to come is beyond me.

By halfway through the week everyone had decided they were northeners..this includes folk from the Isle of White and Devon :clap:

Moon

Have to agree wih most people who've posted - people up here really have time for you, and make life more pleasurable. There's one check out guy at Tesco's who always has a laugh with customers. He deserves a pay rise IMHO as he's a really smiley chatty person who cheers me up after the hellish shopping trip I've probably just had!

Local butchers always wave and pass the time of day as well.

A lot of people in the south are too status driven, they worry about image a lot, which ties up with money which makes them stressed and this seems to stop them chatting to people.
In the south you can go for days without anyone talking to you, up here you cant even go and buy a loaf of bread without someone having a chat - its great, I love the north and my daughter has picked up the accent really quickly:)

MOD: Similar threads merged, you may want to see the earlier posts.

Interesting that the biggest majority of posts with negative comments about Southerns are biased towards the South East or Home Counties. I think the South West should be exempt from this anti-Southerness as we, here in Devon, have the same views as you Northerners on people from the 'other' side of the country.

resurrecting a really old thread but........I feel there is a north/south divide in many things.

I have recently posted about jellied eels and got 4 responses, yet a post about meat and tattie pie gets alot more. I never had meat and tattie pie til I left London.

There is also a divide in humour I am sure. While the north likes the gentle humour of 'Last of the Summer Wine' and Victoria Wood, give me the Max Miller humour anytime. Incidently Max never appeared further north that Nottingham because his humour never went down well futher north than that.

In Sheffield you had an area called salmon pastures and, so I understand, the so called 'working classes' could catch salmon and it became a regular meal.

The only salmon I saw as a kid was out of a tin, and then only at weddings. We did however regularly have Trotters, cow heel, brains, sweetbreads etc. And if we were really good, we had a plateful of Whitstable oysters, and please no comment on if they worked or not.

Yes there is a cultural north/south divide form people of a certain age. It is good that the movement of labour and students is breaking that down.

Well having gone to uni and worked in Southampton for 5 yrs, I cam e to Sheffield in 2001. I have family up here and I loved it.

I'm now in a situation where after a nasty breakup and being left completely shattered, I need a new hme, new job and new life. All my friends are in Southampton and London and I have just decided this weekend that i am going to move to london.

I'm rather excited and job hunting at the mo.

Ive spent most wkends over the past few months in Southampton and London and I have loved every second - everyone is pleasant and I haven't found horrible people!

BB good luck from me.

If you ever need a tour round the seedier parts of the East End, gis a call.

You're all southerners to me! Being from Glasgow and obviously stereotypically hating everything English maybe I can provide an objective view......

I left Glasgow for the Big Smoke, but ended up in Hemel Hempstead, stayed there for a while and was miserable - moved up here (Sheffield) and have had a great time. For want of a better word, the majority of people here seem to me to have a better 'mentality' than those I met daaan saaaf.

So in conclusion.........I hate you lot less.:hihi:

floyd 77......its them there round-a-bouts that do the Hemels.

Am I right or am I right?

Originally posted by BoppinBruce
floyd 77......its them there round-a-bouts that do the Hemels.

Am I right or am I right?

You could be right, and still be left with those bloody things! I found the best plan of attack was just to put the foot down and hope for the best!
I remember coming into Hemel for the first time and seeing the road sign for the roundabout thinking "What the f....."

It was quite fun telling people to take the 19th exit at the magic roundabout to get to my house though!

Originally posted by Killian
Interesting that the biggest majority of posts with negative comments about Southerns are biased towards the South East or Home Counties. I think the South West should be exempt from this anti-Southerness as we, here in Devon, have the same views as you Northerners on people from the 'other' side of the country.
On the whole I'd agree with that statement, but just add a word of caution, there are some parts (of the SW, especially in Cornwall) that are now solely occupied by London ( :gag: ) ex-pats.

The "natives” of those areas are much like everyone else (outside London / SE) though (IMHO).

:)

Yes , there's definitely a North/South divide.
A few years ago a mate of mine moved from Parson Cross to Batemoor ----and he can't wait to get back.
He said all the Southerners round Batemoor and Jordanthorpe are right stuck up , never wear a vest in the garden , always eat chips on a plate [!] , never have a good punch -up on Saturdays or nothing.
He says on Parson Cross everybody spoke to you-------even the muggers shouted , "have a nice day ," as they ran down the road with your wallet. No comparison.

I must jump to the defence of people in Jordanthorpe. I have noted one or two round there with tattoos spelt incorrectly.

I've always lived in the North (Wakefield and Sheffield) and love it here.

With my job I used to go to London on a regular basis and I have to say I found most people really friendly and helpful (the police were much more friendly and helpful in London). I always met someone and had a chat - not sure if it was because I have a Northern accent and they were happy to talk or not, but I can honestly say, I love London. But then as hubby keeps pointing out, I've never had to live there.

My husband was born and brought up in London and Essex, he moved up to Sheffield with work about 15 years ago now and wouldn't move back South. We visit his family in Essex regularly and again I have found everyone really friendly. They are a bit more materialistic than us - but that's just the way they are, I think that's an individual thing.

Hels, what do you mean you love London?

The traffic jams, the museums, SOHO (or what is left of it) Hyde Park, The drunks in Paddington, the junkies in Brixton, The Globe, The Culture, The homeless on the Embankment, what do you love?

I moved to London when I was 18, and stayed there for 5 years, it's fun when you're young and don't have anything to realy care about except which is the trendiest club to be seen in.

At some point I think most gay men live in London, or want to, just because there is more for us there, pubs, clubs, shops etc, but after a certain age (when pubs and clubs don't matter as much) you realise there isn't much else worth living there for.

I still go down every now and again to see my mates but I wouldn'ty move back there, I've got it too good here.

Originally posted by foo_fighter
On the whole I'd agree with that statement, but just add a word of caution, there are some parts (of the SW, especially in Cornwall) that are now solely occupied by London ( :gag: ) ex-pats.

The "natives” of those areas are much like everyone else (outside London / SE) though (IMHO).

:)

I have to ask, and I am very interested, where you got that info from....I'm half Cornish, have lots of family who are through and through Cornish who still live in Cornwall, and the two villages where they are mostly based are mainly inhabited by Cornish people, as are most other places in Cornwall.

I don't want to start an argument about this, but just should like to know where this info is coming from?

:shocked:

How has this thread managed to elude me for so long!?

In so many of my other posts I have moaned about being stuck in Southampton, when all along this thread has existed for me to vent my frustration on!

Southampton is rubbish; all the idiotic perceptions that people have mentioned in this thread are true, and I could (should I ever feel the need) catalogue them and many more in a book the size of a small planet. Pluto, for instance...

My course is over, and I return to Sheffield in T-minus 17 days!

Originally posted by Ann_x
I have to ask, and I am very interested, where you got that info from....I'm half Cornish, have lots of family who are through and through Cornish who still live in Cornwall, and the two villages where they are mostly based are mainly inhabited by Cornish people, as are most other places in Cornwall.

I don't want to start an argument about this, but just should like to know where this info is coming from?

:shocked:
Spending time there, and what mates (100% Cornish) who live there tell me, that's all.

Didn't used to be like that, it's just every time I go back it seems like more and more cock-er-nees have moved there, and set up business. :gag:

NB. I'm not having a go at the locals, just the recent newcomers buying up pubs and stuff (on the coast, touristy areas mostly), go inland and your OK.

Oh, and I don't want an argument either, just telling it like I see it.

:)

I am Sheffield born and bred, exiled in Lancashire, and have lived in the midlands and south too. The most oafish, loutish and vulgar people I have ever encountered are the whelk-guzzling, Cockney overspill of Essex. They are quite different from the inhabitants of East London, who, in my experience are often the kindest and nicest people [quite different to the way they are portrayed in Eastenders]. The worst of Essex takes some beating. They appear to exaggerate the most vulgar characteristics of their near-ancestors, combining them with ostentation, and a ghastly sentimentality about 'Ingerland'.

The generally cultured, fine-featured people of neighbouring Suffolk, with their thoughtful intonation and civility view their brash, rake-helly neighbours with contempt. Who can blame them? It is as if a alien colony had been transplanted there, with their 'blaggings too numerous to mention, squire', and their culture of kebabs and 'lager top'. Lager- top, indeed! Things have come to a pretty bloody pass when an Englishman can't drink a pint of beer without a drop of lemonade in it!

The amusing thing is, these unbearable grotesques think they are spreading 'calcha' [culture] and 'sfisticayshun' [sophistication], whenever they venture 'norf'. In my experience, they find it impossible to believe that there are any northern middle class people at all. Many of them view us as either in-bred, thumb-sucking retards, or at best in terms of Coronation Street imagery; simple folk, with 'good hearts'. It often comes as a surprise to them, that Yorkshiremen can make terrible enemies.

What do I love about London?

I get excited when I arrive at St Pancras, I nearly always bump into at least one person that I know (strangely I rarely see anyone I know when in Sheffield)?

The variety is endless, modern and ancient architecture, museums - too many to choose from, monuments, history, so much to do and see.

I like the cafe culture, sitting sipping a cappuchino watching the world go by.

People watching on the tube

Meeting up with friends for a quick drink (that usually turns into a long drink)

The huge range and variety of shops (large and small)

The cosmopolitan atmosphere and range of people you meet from all over the world.

There's so many hidden little gems - walled gardens, quiet areas few people seem to notice, walking through St Jame's park on a warm summer morning

too much to mention in just one post!

Nice one Hels!

I am moving to Sheffield in August from London and I am really looking forward to it, but I am going to miss London:(

I must admit that people are a little bit more materialistic, but that is what happens when you are in a wealthy city.

I love the theatre, the restaurants, architecture, the sheer vibrant cosmopolitan feel to London - the fact that you can be who you want without being made to feel a freak

London Transport have recently issued bike route maps as well and some of them are great! You can cycle all the way along the river from Putney into London and it is so beautiful...... yes I am going to miss it!:sad:

Originally posted by timo

The amusing thing is, these unbearable grotesques think they are spreading 'calcha' [culture] and 'sfisticayshun' [sophistication], whenever they venture 'norf'. In my experience, they find it impossible to believe that there are any northern middle class people at all. Many of them view us as either in-bred, thumb-sucking retards, or at best in terms of Coronation Street imagery; simple folk, with 'good hearts'. It often comes as a surprise to them, that Yorkshiremen can make terrible enemies.

:Tongue in cheek:

Not true at all :nono: - we southerners are actually very obliging to you northerners - even if you do like Coronation Street!

Me thinks you may be a notherner with a HUGE chip on your shoulder - north/south divide what ********:hihi:

Hels, I agree with you 100% on all that London has to offer. I often walk great distances across London, and in many ways I find it as invigorating and mentally refreshing as a walk in the Peak District (although totally different). There's nothing quite so exciting as stumbling across a new little park or alleyway which you've never seen before (I discovered Postman's Park (http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/london/tiles/ppark/index.shtml), near the Barbican, on a recent jaunt, and was incredibly moved by the wall of memorial plaques to people who'd sacrificed their lives to save others; equally moved to hear it used as inspiration for an afternoon play on Radio 4 a couple of weeks later).

I'm from London (or at least the suburbs) originally, have lived in Bristol and all over London (including the fringes of Essex: timo's not too far wrong there, although of course he is stereotyping and there are plenty of decent Essex lads and lasses), before moving to Sheffield (where I will probably spend the rest of my life) six years ago. I love it here. But I also love London, for different reasons, and I still visit at least once a month. London has plenty to offer that Sheffield doesn't (and vice versa). But I don't think I'd ever want to live there again: it's too crowded, too expensive, too big, too dirty, too much.

Life in Sheffield, with the occasional very brief fix of London, is as close to perfection as I can imagine right now. Yes, the people do (usually) have more time for you up here, although I think that is due to London's over-crowding, its transient population, and the overwork that everyone there is driven to by ridiculous property prices, not because Southerners have any genetic disposition towards rudeness. There's good and bad everywhere, let's celebrate what we've got without having to resort to bad-mouthing others.

Originally posted by Hels
What do I love about London?

I get excited when I arrive at St Pancras

I know what you mean Hels, something about arriving at Victoria, then jumping on and off the tube makes my heart leap, its the buzz of the place.

Still prefer sheffield tho'!

I love visiting London. The place has superb transport, loads to see and do, and the pubs are great. But I'd hate to have to live there, as just living day to day seems stressful in such a big place. Even travelling from one side of town to the other would take ages just because of the size of the city, so no wonder the natives all look so stressed.

The people seem friendly enough though. I've had a fair few laughs with shop and hotel staff and so on, and I've loads of colleagues who are based there, who are just the same as anyone else. I think rather than North/South being the difference between people, it's all about whether a person is stuck up or not, and there's plenty of people up here who are rude too.

What's the thing about the humour though? Us northerners only like gentle humour? What about the League of Gentlemen? Phoenix Nights?

Juicyb125,
My friend, may I assure you that I most certainly do not have a 'chip on my shoulder' re the south of England. If you read my posting carefully, I praise the people of Suffolk [from whom I partly descend, in the maternal line], and the people of East London. It is the people of Essex, with their souped-up Oafmobiles and ghastly manners that I inveigh against. Any questions?

Originally posted by timo
Juicyb125,
My friend, may I assure you that I most certainly do not have a 'chip on my shoulder' re the south of England. If you read my posting carefully, I praise the people of Suffolk [from whom I partly descend, in the maternal line], and the people of East London. It is the people of Essex, with their souped-up Oafmobiles and ghastly manners that I inveigh against. Any questions?

No questions my lovely - actually quite agree regarding the Essex thing - please also note my post was purely a little wind up just to invigorate the postings as I thought they were getting a little dull - no offence meant! :lol: I was just distributing a little bit of mischief late at night!:D

Juicy,
Cheers! I would send you a 'smiley' back if only I knew how to. I am good at the clever-Dick invective, but absolutely, pathetically useless at anything practical!

You need to make sure you have gone into 'your options' and 'edit options' and clicked yes on the very last box

Then when you are typing a reply scroll right down to the bottow of the page and there is a little box saying "forum rules". It will say smilies are on. Click on the smilies bit and it tells you how to type them all!!:P

Originally posted by timo
It is the people of Essex, with their souped-up Oafmobiles and ghastly manners that I inveigh against.

<raises an eyebrow>

Sian,
Why?

She is being moderate in her response! (Get it!) :hihi:

Originally posted by timo
Sian,
Why?

It sounds like the sort of comment found in "The Sun" - albeit minus monosyllabic words. The sentiment is the same.

Timo = sentiments of a Sun reader :o (so shocked that both my eyebrows are raised :P )

Sun reader?! Telegraph reader, if you don't mind, dear heart. While I

-sorry, Sian, in my excitement and heightened emotion, I hit the wrong knob there. I'm sure you will understand.

Where was I? Oh, Essex. Does the Sun satirise Essex types too? One does not subscribe to the tabloids. Actually, I am prepared to admit that there will be many, many Essex people who do not fit my narrow stereotype. Nevertheless, I have met many that most certainly do fit it. I exaggerate in the spirit of good-natured persiflage [ahem...], but the basic 'culture' of values and norms does appear to be an extreme version of 'cockernee' behaviour. Even the 'real' Eastenders are not terribly keen on the vulgarity and garishness to be encountered in the county. Doubtless, we could find some sober-suited, solid citizens, and cultured sophisticates, but they appear to be in a minority, that is all.

I do hope that you are not from Essex. I would not wish to offend your delicate sensibilities. Or rather, I wish to avoid, 'a punch up the bracket', as the occupants of remote Essex enclaves still call it.

:rolleyes:

stands by to hold Siân's coat .... :D

I wondered when dear old ruby might appear. How are you, love? Did you take your tablets like the doctor told you to? I'll bet you've slept through the afternoon again, haven't you? Dreaming, no doubt, of when Zeppelins flew over Woodseats. Have you had that Shackleton's Original Highchair mended yet? I'll be round later with your potted meat and water cress. Ta ra.

Sorry about that. She's getting on a bit, poor dear.

Originally posted by timo
-sorry, Sian, in my excitement and heightened emotion, I hit the wrong knob there. I'm sure you will understand.

Where was I? Oh, Essex. Does the Sun satirise Essex types too? One does not subscribe to the tabloids. Actually, I am prepared to admit that there will be many, many Essex people who do not fit my narrow stereotype. Nevertheless, I have met many that most certainly do fit it. I exaggerate in the spirit of good-natured persiflage [ahem...], but the basic 'culture' of values and norms does appear to be an extreme version of 'cockernee' behaviour. Even the 'real' Eastenders are not terribly keen on the vulgarity and garishness to be encountered in the county. Doubtless, we could find some sober-suited, solid citizens, and cultured sophisticates, but they appear to be in a minority, that is all.

I do hope that you are not from Essex. I would not wish to offend your delicate sensibilities. Or rather, I wish to avoid, 'a punch up the bracket', as the occupants of remote Essex enclaves still call it.

Could you perchance be confusing "London Overspill" with people from Essex? (I realise that Sun readers & their ilk find the two very confusing :P )

Hubby's parents moved from London to Essex when hubby was nowt but a wee lad.

He was brought up in Essex and lived there (worked in London) until moving to Sheffield in the nineties.

So - he's an Essex boy! He is one of the most sober, smart-suited, quiet and intelligent people I know - he's as far removed from the Essex stereotype that anyone can be.

Mother-in-law :loopy: on the other hand, could give every Essex person a bad name!

Sian,
Yes, I think that is the case. I am probably referring to the 'overspill' rather than the old Essex families. There is a similar situation in parts of south Lancashire, near to Liverpool. The original inhabitants are now in a minority, and they have been 'colonised' by Liverpudlians. The whole culture has undergone a change, including the dominant accent. The old Lancashire twang ['Lewk 'ere mutherr'- think of John Savidant's portrayal of Coronation Street's 'Fred Elliot'] has been replaced by the nasal 'scouse' accent.

Never mind regional differences. As my dear Grandmother used to say, 'There's a bit of good in everybody'. Even in me, no doubt.

Originally posted by timo
Sian,
Yes, I think that is the case. I am probably referring to the 'overspill' rather than the old Essex families.

Glad we got that cleared up <grins> Despite being born there I'm neither :)

London overspill (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/01_january/24/eastdevelopment.shtml) - for all those who've not come across the term before. Essex is much maligned :(

Originally posted by timo
The old Lancashire twang ['Lewk 'ere mutherr'- think of John Savidant's portrayal of Coronation Street's 'Fred Elliot'] has been replaced by the nasal 'scouse' accent.
I'm sure I remember hearing somewhere that the Scouse accent didn't originate in Liverpool either (just as "Estuary English" originated with the London overspill rather than in Essex), but is more strongly influenced by a nearby accent (somewhere on the Wirral, perhaps?)

Dan,
The 'Scouse' accent is believed to be a mixture of rural Lancastrian, Irish and North Welsh. Apparently, before urbanisation in the Nineteenth century brought many Welsh people to the city, and the Irish famine brought even more Irish immigrants, the local accent was not dissimilar to that of Wigan. If you were to visit places such as Gwersyllt, near Wrexham, you could be forgiven for mistaking the 'sing-song' intonation for 'Scouse' dialect. Actually, it is a case of Northern Welsh speech patterns being incorporated into the Liverpool accent, rather than the reverse.

The Liverpool accent has many variants too. The people of Kirkby have a most gutteral accent, prouncing the word 'black' with such emphasis upon the 'c' and 'k' that one could be forgiven for assuming that they are about to projectile vomit. The Toxteth accent [think of Michael Angelis's 'Chrissy' in Boys From the Blackstuff] is a low octave accent. Come to think of it, Ringo Starr [also from Liverpool 8] has the same, deep, slow intonation. The Bootle accent is frankly unbearable. This particular variant is so high pitched as to sound utterly ludicrous, especially in the case of men. The rising inflection at the end of every sentence laces even casual exchanges with a hint of grievance.

I'm certainly no linguist, but it is possible, if one really listens, to identify variants of all accents. It is no different with Sheffield. Listen to the 'eastern' Sheffield accent of Sean Bean, in comparison to Mark Addy's 'nearer to Derbyshire' tones, for example.

Wow, thanks for the linguistic history lesson timo. One other type of Scouse accent: my sister's, a subtle blend of West London and Scouse (she now lives in L17, but was in L8 for a couple of years).

Dan,
It is a pleasure, though I must emphasise that I am not an expert on linguistics/dialect. There are some brilliant people in that field who are able to identify minute phonetic identifying markers in speech patterns. They can trace an accent to a certain part of a city, i.e, they could listen to a Sheffielder talking, and trace him/her to a certain part of Crookes, rather than Crosspool or Hillsborough etc.

Okay, I know this thread is way old, but I was researching the North/South divide for a film at uni, and found it.

And my goodness, aren't some of you ignorant? You accuse Southerners of being ignorant, and it's so ironic. Funnily enough, not all Southerners are alike, just like not all Northerners are alike. Our country is so small, why do we have to make all these divisions?

Why do some Northerners persecute people merely because of where they live?! It's ridiculous. I'm from the Home Counties, but studying in Newcastle. I came up here with an open mind, but certain narrow-minded Northerners have started to turn me against the North, purely because you don't get a fair deal just because you elongate your vowels. It's so silly.

Okay, I know this thread is way old, but I was researching the North/South divide for a film at uni, and found it.

And my goodness, aren't some of you ignorant? You accuse Southerners of being ignorant, and it's so ironic. Funnily enough, not all Southerners are alike, just like not all Northerners are alike. Our country is so small, why do we have to make all these divisions?

Why do some Northerners persecute people merely because of where they live?! It's ridiculous. I'm from the Home Counties, but studying in Newcastle. I came up here with an open mind, but certain narrow-minded Northerners have started to turn me against the North, purely because you don't get a fair deal just because you elongate your vowels. It's so silly.
I'm a southerner, born and bred, and still live in the south, but even I find your post offensive. You generalise to the extreme. It's not all northerners who believe in the divide, as do some southerners.

The last time I visited Sheffield, I attended two (unofficial) SF meets, and have to say that I received a very warm welcome. There is also few people from Yorkshire I regard as friends (not all on SF btw). Yes, there is urine extracted, but that happens at both ends of the country.

Stop tarring all northerners with the same brush, and try to get to know them. The other option, of course, would be for you to find a uni dahn sahf if you find that you really can't be tolerant of northerners.

:rant:

Dan,
The 'Scouse' accent is believed to be a mixture of rural Lancastrian, Irish and North Welsh. Apparently, before urbanisation in the Nineteenth century brought many Welsh people to the city, and the Irish famine brought even more Irish immigrants, the local accent was not dissimilar to that of Wigan. If you were to visit places such as Gwersyllt, near Wrexham, you could be forgiven for mistaking the 'sing-song' intonation for 'Scouse' dialect. Actually, it is a case of Northern Welsh speech patterns being incorporated into the Liverpool accent, rather than the reverse.

The Liverpool accent has many variants too. The people of Kirkby have a most gutteral accent, prouncing the word 'black' with such emphasis upon the 'c' and 'k' that one could be forgiven for assuming that they are about to projectile vomit. The Toxteth accent [think of Michael Angelis's 'Chrissy' in Boys From the Blackstuff] is a low octave accent. Come to think of it, Ringo Starr [also from Liverpool 8] has the same, deep, slow intonation. The Bootle accent is frankly unbearable. This particular variant is so high pitched as to sound utterly ludicrous, especially in the case of men. The rising inflection at the end of every sentence laces even casual exchanges with a hint of grievance.

I'm certainly no linguist, but it is possible, if one really listens, to identify variants of all accents. It is no different with Sheffield. Listen to the 'eastern' Sheffield accent of Sean Bean, in comparison to Mark Addy's 'nearer to Derbyshire' tones, for example.

You want to have heard Mark Addy's scary attempts at an American accent when he played Fred Flintstone a few years back, :gag:

Then again, Fred Flintstone with a broad Yorkshire accent?! There's something very wrong with that picture IMO :loopy:

Okay, I know this thread is way old, but I was researching the North/South divide for a film at uni, and found it.

And my goodness, aren't some of you ignorant? You accuse Southerners of being ignorant, and it's so ironic. Funnily enough, not all Southerners are alike, just like not all Northerners are alike. Our country is so small, why do we have to make all these divisions?

Why do some Northerners persecute people merely because of where they live?! It's ridiculous. I'm from the Home Counties, but studying in Newcastle. I came up here with an open mind, but certain narrow-minded Northerners have started to turn me against the North, purely because you don't get a fair deal just because you elongate your vowels. It's so silly.

Well my dear,

I think you will find that Yorkshire has to be considered as a separate entity when dicussing the North in general. It would be presumptious and foolhardy to lump God's own county in with the likes of the North East and places like Lancashire.

It's evident that you've not made an effort to fit in with our Northern ways. Have you bought a whippet? I doubt it. Do you don a flat cap? Probably not. Do you use words and phrases such as Thee, Tha, Thine, Be reyt or 'appen? I suspect that the answer is no.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to walk upon Ilkley moor ba tat.