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.
Flapper Fold Lane in Atherton, and Hardicker Street in Rochdale / Credit: Google Maps
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
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Castlefield is being transformed into Gotham amidst more Hollywood filming in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
Castlefield, with its iconic viaduct and cobbled streets, is once again being used for big-budget filming as the latest Batman/DC Universe title, Clayface, looks to be setting up in the eye-catching Manc corner.
Whether it’s football kit reveals and brand shoots, BBC dramas or the next upcoming Netflix series, production crews can’t get enough of Castlefield, it would seem.
For those who hadn’t heard, work on the new Clayface movie revolving around the cult favourite Batman villain is well underway, and the North West has been used as the backdrop on multiple ocassions this month already.
You can see early glimpses of the set being put together down below.
Come on, how cool is it that we get to stumble on stuff like this right on our doorstep so often?
Speaking to The Manc, a source detailed that the set is being assembled today (Tuesday, 16 September) ahead of a single day of principal photography on what we can only assume is more Clayface filming sometime tomorrow.
While she could not confirm with us directly, she said, “If you’re a comic book nerd and look at the posters, you’ll be able to figure it out.” We’ve certainly been studying all the easter eggs already.
It might not quite be as dark and gritty as Gotham City, but this particular part of Manchester has been used in TV and film – especially period dramas – many times for good reason.
The Victorian-era steel structure, dark red brick and overall industrial aesthetic work so well when it comes to creating a believable and cinematic world.
Besides perhaps the most famous instance of Peaky Blinders shooting in these parts, you can add multiple music videos, several Manchester United and Man City shirt launches, and so many more that we’re starting to lose track.
As for Clayface, this isn’t even the first time the upcoming DC ‘body-horror’ flick has popped up in Greater Manchester.
Last week saw the equally striking Art Deco facade of the old The Plaza Super Cinema in Stockport turned into a fictional movie premiere to stunning effect:
Speaking of, another childhood favourite is filming here in Manchester right now, too.
Besides perhaps the most famous instance of Peaky Blinders shooting in these parts, the new Narnia adaptation by Greta Gerwig may just be one of the biggest projects that has ever landed underneath the familiar ‘birdcage’.
ln fact, it just so happens that there are actually multiple noteworthy small and silver screen works fighting over the Castlefield shooting schedule at the moment…
Manchester City staff member sacked after wearing Man United shirt to shift
Danny Jones
Man City have divided a fair few supporters after they sacked a barman for wearing a United shirt to their shift during the Manchester derby.
Although it’s not exactly surprising, the decision has ruffled plenty of feathers on both sides, as well as among neutral fans.
The Blues emerged victorious in the 197th clash between the two local rivals, winning 3-0 on an evening that paid tribute to the late, great Ricky Hatton, but another backstory looming over the fixture that caught the attention of football fans online was the City staff member who lost his job.
Working on concessions inside the Etihad Stadium before the game, the barman was made known to the official MCFC Matchday Support channel on X, who quickly confirmed he had been let go before the game even began.
In the since-deleted post, the home fan who reported the worker wrote: “Absolute joke – letting one of the bar staff in block 315 wear a United shirt on Derby Day.”
Although many City fans applauded the fast action by the club on the day, it’s fair to say that sacking him so soon that he didn’t even last until kick-off has rubbed many others the wrong way.
One Liverpool fan commented: “I hate United way more than City, but to sack him from a job because of an item of clothing is crazy. So, so poor from Manchester City, this. It’s just football lads, he’s not wearing a political or derogatory symbol. It’s literally a football team…”
Another neutral added: “Getting a minimum wage worker sacked for having a bit of fun instead of just winding him up is the absolute sad state this country is in.”
Even the ‘Out Of Context Football Manager‘ parody account chipped in, writing: “The guy’s been sacked for this. All he needed was a formal warning. I get he’s taking the p*ss – but losing a salary he might really need over this?!
While many have been even more outspoken in their response, as you can see, many supporters – be they Red or otherwise – have come up with arguably the perfect solution:
Manchester City are yet to comment on the backlash, apart from the initial confirmation that the still-anonymous staff member has been released from his position, but as for Man United, simply sticking him on the kiosks in the Stretford End could prove to be a very easy bit of positive PR.
Besides the growing frustration around the fanbase, as Ruben Amorim has yet to turn things around at Old Trafford (pressure was growing even before the derby day defeat), the Red Devils could no doubt do with some positive press for a change.
In fact, it was only earlier this year that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and the wider INEOS Sports administration sanctioned a second round of redundancies at United, with approximately 450 individuals losing their jobs.
That being said, although some have labelled the sacking of the now ex-City barman as “absolutely horrendous behaviour” for Man City, many jumped to quip back that “[United are] more likely to sack more bar staff, not hire them”, as well as simultaneously taking aim at their significant transfer spending.