Most of us would like to claim we have a sophisticated sense of humour – but in reality, we all love a juvenile laugh.
And there’s no easier place to find one than right outside your front door.
Few things bring out our inner child quite like finding a rudely-named street or place, and thanks to the English language being so on-the-nose it its naming style, Greater Manchester is full of them – with a road bearing bottom, dick, or fold everywhere you look.
Reports may have shown house prices can fall by staggering amounts based on ‘undesirable’ street names, but that doesn’t mean they’re not ammusing.
Here’s some of the rudest road names in the region.
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Hardicker Lane
Levenshulme
This one’s all in the pronunciation.
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It’d be fairly easy to overlook the innuendo in this Levenshulme street name if you hadn’t seen it written down, but the slower you pronounce it, the funnier it is, and although the story behind the unfortunate side street off Stockport Road is unknown, it’ll have you smiling nonetheless.
Flapper Fold Lane
Atherton
The name is funny on is own, and then the alliteration only makes it funnier.
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Despite the name though, there is nothing that intrinsically rude about it as a ‘fold’ is just a common type of terrain in northern England and is usually described ‘a slight hill or hollow in the ground’.
Cock Clod Street
Radcliffe
This just rounds rude, doesn’t it? It’s hard to deny.
It isn’t quite what it seems though, as given the fact the sport was once a pretty popular pastime in Radcliffe, the street’s name derives from its history as the site of a cock-fighting clod – which is a round patch of earth often surrounded by seating.
Dick Field Clough
Ramsbottom
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We don’t really need to explain why this one’s on the list, and the ‘Dick Field’ part is pretty self explanatory, and then while the dictionary definition of clough is just ‘a deep valley or ravine’, it’s clearly got some hilarious connotations.
The fact that the street is in Ramsbottom just makes it funnier too.
Holebottom
Ashton-under-Lyne
It doesn’t get much more explicit than Holebottom, does it?
This snigger-inducing cul-de-sac is just around the corner from Broadoak Primary School and again, although the origins of the name are unclear, it’s likely to have been a source of embarrassment for people living there for years – and the butt of all jokes for passing schoolchildren.
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Slag Lane
Leigh
Not only is this one rudely-named, it’s actually pretty derogatory as well.
It does have a history though, as this unfortunately-named street in Lowton is thought to have roots in the area’s coal mining heritage, with one theory involving the family of a local poet called John Byram, who’s coach became stuck on a dirt track on the way to church one Sunday, and to stop it happening again, they had the road covered in coal slag from nearby Bickershaw Colliery.
The road then became known as “The Slag Lane”.
Slag Lane in Lowton / Credit: Google Maps
Helmet Street
Ardwick
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In the early 20th century, Helmet Street in Ardwick was home to Holt & Pennington – one of Manchester’s most prominent timber merchants.
When it comes to the name ‘helmet’ though, we can only hope it has military connections.
Nob End
Bolton
This one isn’t strictly a street name, but how can we miss this off the list?
The 21-acre site in Kearsley near Bolton was once a dumping ground for sulphuric acid and washing soda during the 19th century, but it’s now a popular nature reserve that’s home to some rare orchids and beautiful wildflowers.
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According to the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the comical name actually derives from the rounded premonitory on which the reserve stands by the River Croal.
Featured Image – Google Maps
Trending
First trailer released for Netflix’s new Harlan Coben series filmed in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
The first trailer for a highly-anticipated new Netflix mystery series has been released, and we’ve already stuck it on our watch lists.
Fresh off the back of the undeniable success of Fool Me Once – which aired globally on Netflix at the start of this year, and shot to the top of the most-streamed charts in the days after it was released – you may remember that it was announced not long after that two new Harlen Coben series had been commissioned and were in the works.
Missing You follows the story of Detective Kat Donovan, who’s fiancé Josh disappeared 11 years ago and she has never heard from him since – but now, when swiping profiles on a dating app, she suddenly sees his face and her world explodes all over again.
Josh’s reappearance will force her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her father’s murder, and uncover long-buried secrets from her past.
The new series stars Rosalind Eleazar as Kat Donovan and Ashley Walters as Josh, alongside an ensemble cast including Jessica Plummer, Richard Armitage – who also starred in Fool Me Once – Steve Pemberton, and even Sir Lenny Henry.
Coben’s novel takes place in New York City, but the series adaptation of Missing You is set to relocate the story to the UK.
Filming took place in and around Manchester and the North West of England.
Just like its predecessor, Missing You is set to be released on Netflix worldwide on New Year’s Day (1 January 2025).
Featured Image – Vishal Sharma / Netflix
Trending
‘Selling pics of my arse is fun’ – Kate Nash defends using OnlyFans to pay for her UK tour
Thomas Melia
London-born singer Kate Nash has released a statement addressing those who have been commenting on her selling photos of her bum online to fund her new live shows.
Nash, who’s certified her position in UK pop culture with her timeless hit ‘Foundations’, has taken to social media to explain her situation in more detail.
“Don’t be ‘sad’ I started OnlyFans to fund my tours”, the 37-year-old opens in her statement before following up with, “It’s very empowering”.
2008’s winner of Best Female Artist at the BRITs has never been shy of speaking up about issues while in the limelight. Recently, she let her drummer Maxie reveal their top surgery in front of thousands of people onstage at Glastonbury.
In 2013, Kate Nash became the global ambassador for the ‘Because I Am A Girl’ movement which is set up to address the issue of gender discrimination across the world.
She has also been open about her mental health struggles and doesn’t hide the fact she struggles with anxiety and mild OCD, the latter initiated by her extensive touring schedule in 2008.
Her currentlive shows, which she is currently in the middle of, even reinforce her current OnlyFans jolt titled the ‘Butts For Buses Tour’ – cheeky!
The star isn’t taking herself too seriously either, posting to social media in a neon pink lingerie, writing ‘Bum’s gone viral lol, goin on stage now bit busy soz xoxo’.
Many artists have spoken out about this issue including indie pop-rocker Rachel Chinouriri and breakthrough rapper Little Simz, who both cancelled their US string of live shows due to the overwhelming costs of touring.
Nash, who is performing in Manchester tonight (Tuesday, 26 November), also wrote: “My arse is shining a light on the problem”, as tour expenses are growing more and more every day.
Fair play. Anyone who sees their arse – pun very much intended – over this clearly eats too many lemons because they’re just so bitter.
The UK singer’s latest album 9 Sad Symphonies released this summer and marks the fifth studio album for the indie-pop staple, fans and concertgoers alike can expect to hear these songs among all the hits on her current setlist.
Kate Nash is performing at New Century Hall in Manchester tonight and if you’re a fan of the British noughties favourites, there are still a few tickets.