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
Trending
Icelandic airline offering incredible Northern Lights holiday experience including hotel, breakfast and tours
Danny Jones
Icelandair, the nation’s principal airline and proud flag carrier is offering an incredible package to holiday-goers this winter by giving them a chance to book their flights, hotel, breakfast, multiple unique tours and the opportunity to see the Northern Lights all in one affordable deal.
With the Northern Lights being one of the most magical tourist attractions in the world, its popularity only increases by the year and, as a result, so does the cost of going to see it.
That’s where Icelandair come in: the flight operator is offering Brits an amazing new package centred around the legendary natural light display at a discount. Trust us, you seriously want to consider snapping up this one whilst you can.
From this week, Icelandair is offering UK travellers a special package deal which includes a three-night holiday with return flights, a hotel room with breakfast and three unique and unforgettable Icelandic tours for just £459 per person.
(Credit: Icelandair)
This deal will see holidaymakers board an Icelandair economy flight from either London, Glasgow or Manchester Airport to the nation’s beautiful capital of Reykjavik, with a complimentary 23kg checked bag allowance, plus a 10kg in hand luggage allowance, your choice when it comes to where you want to seat, seat, on-board refreshments and a personal in-flight entertainment system.
For your accommodation, you’ll be staying at the four-star Hotel Island Spa and Wellness Resort, located right near the centre of Reykjavik and treated to breakfast every morning for two adults sharing a room. And then you get to make the most of what the country’s incredible landscape.
Onto the main event of your holiday: Icelandair’s Northern Lights experience is a breathtaking three-to-four-hour tour that allows you to see the glory of the incredible natural phenomenon with your own eyes.
As for the FlyOver Iceland tour, this unique experience is the ultimate flying ride which utilizes state-of-the-art technology to give you the exhilarating feeling of flight. During this virtual journey, you’ll experience the more remote but no less spectacular areas of Iceland through motion, wind, sound and even scents.
People wait their entire lives to experience the Northern Lights. What’s stopping you?
Last but not certainly least, you have the lava show, which is one of the top-rated attractions anywhere in Scandinavia, receiving numerous awards for innovation and educational value. You literally get to watch as they recreate a volcanic eruption and allow you to safely experience hot lava in close proximity.
Once again, all this is yours to enjoy from just £459 per person. We believe the phrase you’re looking for is ‘value for money’.
Available right now until 4 October 2023, you can book to travel to see Iceland and the Northern Lights from November 2023 right up until March 2024.
You book your flights HERE and find out more information about this incredible package via the Icelandair website.
This Greater Manchester area has just been named one of the best in the UK to raise a family
Emily Sergeant
We all know Greater Manchester is home to a wide range of neighbourhoods and residential areas to suit every need.
But one area, in particular, has just been named among the best in the UK to raise a family.
Fresh off the back of two of our region’s towns being highlighted as places that first time buyers should consider looking at to get onto the property ladder, and not long after another two local towns earned themselves a place within the top 20 ‘most desirable’ in Britain, Greater Manchester has now got another title to talk about with pride.
After the team at home security experts ADT decided to do some research into the best places in the country for those looking to raise a family, Trafford has made it into the top 10.
The Greater Manchester borough has earned seventh place on the list after a number of factors were analysed for the research – including the quality of the local schools, the general safety of the area, and the number of parks within walking distance.
The top 10 most family-friendly areas in the UK
Rank
Area
Crime Rate Per 1,000 People, Year ending March 2023
Burglary Rate Per 1,000 People, Year ending March 2023
Average number of Parks, Public Gardens, or Playing Fields within a 1,000 m radius
Percentage of Oustanding and Good Rated Schools and Colleges
Median House Price, Year Ending Dec 2022
Cost of a single bus fare, adult
Family Safety Score /10
1
Waltham Forest
82
3.2
6
82.8%
£520,000
£1.75
7.23
2
Kirklees
111
3.5
6
77.6%
£181,000
£1.60
7.12
3
Havering
76
2.9
4
89.5%
£445,000
£1.75
6.99
4
Bexley
65
2.4
4
81.3%
£425,000
£1.75
6.96
4
Bromley
69
3.1
6
79.7%
£529,000
£1.75
6.96
6
Wirral
96
2.6
6
77.8%
£200,000
£2.00
6.80
7
Trafford
88
4.4
5
83.2%
£193,000
£2.00
6.72
7
Newcastle
124
3.7
8
81.6%
£178,000
£2.00
6.72
9
Hounslow
88
4.2
5
83.2%
£478,000
£1.75
6.64
9
Hillingdon
80
3.6
5
80.5%
£485,000
£1.75
6.64
Waltham Forest in London takes the top spot for the most family-friendly area in the UK, according to the research, as it ranked within the top 15 for both the lowest crime and burglary rates, and also ranked seventh for schools – with 82.8% having a “good” or higher rating from OFSTED.
Kirkless in West Yorkshire took second place, followed by Havering, Bexley, and Bromley all rounding out the top five.
As well as Kirklees placing second and Trafford being in the seventh spot, the Wirral and Newcastle-upon-Tyne are also fellow northern representatives within the top 10.
Trafford has been named one of the best areas in the UK to raise a family / Credit: ADT
Sadly, on the other end of the spectrum, the least family-friendly area in the UK was found to be Birmingham, according to ADT’s research, as despite the average house price being £221,000, with a crime rate of 141 per 1,000 people, and a family safety score of just 2.5/10, the Midlands city takes the bottom spot.
On a more positive note though, when it comes the postcode area with the lowest crime rate in the UK, the North West is representing once again, as this has come out as CW12 3 in Cheshire East.