There was a discussion on the BIFHSGO London SIG last Wednesday about who was a Cockney. Traditionally it's someone born within the sound of Bow Bells.
Group member Mick Jaques emailed with the information "The map at the following website shows where the bells used to be heard and where they can now be heard with the prevailing southwest wind. https://www.quora.com/Strictly-a-cockney-is-one-born-within-sound-of-Bow-Bells-What-radius-would-that-have-been-obviously-it-will-have-changed-with-ambient-noise-levels."
Wikipedia's article on Cockney mentions that "According to legend, Dick Whittington heard the bells 4.5 miles away at the Highgate Archway, in what is now north London. The studies mean that it is credible that Whittington might have heard them on one of the infrequent days that the wind blows from the south."
Winds can blow from all directions. Data for London City Airport shows southwest is the very predominant direction with a small secondary maximum from the east. On those occasions, the bells of St Mary le Bow might be heard well to the west as an easterly wind, which is often accompanied by a temperature inversion, traps sound near the ground.
The Cockney accent can be heard much further afield than the bells! - here.
1 comment:
Cockney Star Trek made my day ... I had a proper giraffe!
My great-grandfather was born in Lower Clapton in 1890 and I always wondered if he would have been considered a Cockney using the traditional Bow Bells test. Hackney would have been much busier in 1890 so it's debatable whether they would have been heard at that point.
Excellent post ... thanks,
Steve
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