Northumberland place names and pronunciations

[androdas]

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“Bebside for Blyth” might have been an appropriate way of naming it.

Its a good job they didn't go Blyth Cowpen (The much larger settlement the other side of the A189, linked by the new bridge) that would have made some interesting debate when the announcements were recorded as it is pronounced COO-pin locally

 

[Meerkat]

Its a good job they didnt go Blyth Cowpen (The much larger settlement the other side of the A189, linked by the new bridge) that would have made some interesting debate when the announcements were recorded as it is pronounced COO-pin locally

It’s only after watching a video linked above somewhere that I realised that it’s Newzum and not New Sham.

 

[Volvictof]

It’s only after watching a video linked above somewhere that I realised that it’s Newzum and not New Sham.

Yeah Northumberland is full of stuff like that.
prudhoe is prudda
cambois is cammis
ulgham is uffam
the list goes on.
and here in Ashinton it’s Eshntn

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Yeah Northumberland is full of stuff like that.
prudhoe is prudda
cambois is cammis
ulgham is uffam
the list goes on.
and here in Ashinton it’s Eshntn

In "The Archers", was there a female character who originated from Prudhoe?

 

[nerdowell]

ulgham is uffam

That one got me ridiculed a fair bit when i was doing my apprenticeship, imagine being from Northumberland and not pronouncing Uffam properly haha.

When Geoff Marshall inevetably reviews the line, hope he pronounces Newsham and Delaval our way, he got told off in the comments last time

 

[duffield]

In "The Archers", was there a female character who originated from Prudhoe?

My late wife's family came from Prudhoe (they moved to the east midlands just before she was born).

 

[Snex]

It’s only after watching a video linked above somewhere that I realised that it’s Newzum and not New Sham.

News-hum I'd say like. See-ton Del-a-vul is another everyone not local gets wrong aswell.

Special mention to Al'n-mouth for An-nick on the ECML aswell which no-one can explain

 

[Killingworth]

News-hum I'd say like. See-ton Del-a-vul is another everyone not local gets wrong aswell.

Special mention to Al'n-mouth for An-nick on the ECML aswell which no-one can explain

We're getting a little off topic but Bellingham and Chillingham aren't the same. But which way should Whittingham, Eglingham and others go? Belling-sjum or Chilling-am.

Ponteeland or Pontyland?. Burwick or Berrick? There are lots more to confuse visitors to Northumberland. A whole new thread of them.

 

[D6130]

In "The Archers", was there a female character who originated from Prudhoe?

Yes, Ruth Archer, David's wife....but she has a rather strange accent which does sound very Prudda to me like. (My late mother was from that part of the world and my elderly aunt still lives nearby).

 

[DerekC]

I recall trying to find the way to a friend's wedding reception at a farm near Wall, Northumberland (long before the days of satnav). Both my grandmothers came from Lancashire so I wasn't expecting language problems! We stopped to ask the way of a likely looking elderlyish guy sitting on a seat by the road. We were given a friendly smile, lots of helpful hand gestures and a long set of instructions, but couldn't follow beyond "Way, its easy ......" After the second repetition it gets embarrassing!

 

[Calthrop]

A late uncle of mine (who grew up in Chester), in the Army in World War II: hearing conversation between two barracks-mates of his, from rural Northumberland -- somewhere "back of Morpeth" -- in their local dialect; took some time to work out that they were actually speaking any kind of English. Even then; he found what they were saying, almost totally incomprehensible.

 

[zero]

A late uncle of mine (who grew up in Chester), in the Army in World War II: hearing conversation between two barracks-mates of his, from rural Northumberland -- somewhere "back of Morpeth" -- in their local dialect; took some time to work out that they were actually speaking any kind of English. Even then; he found what they were saying, almost totally incomprehensible.

I was on a train to Ayr and a family got on at Prestwick Airport one door down from where I was sitting. I was convinced they were speaking German to each other, until the guard came by and started chatting to them in a lively manner.

I surreptitiously moved closer, and was then able to identify that they were speaking English, probably with an Ayrshire accent but all I could tell is that it sounded closer to my friend from Glasgow than people in Edinburgh. I then moved back to my previous seat and their speech began to sound like German again - perhaps similar to how listening to Dutch from a distance sounds like it's English.


Regarding the pronunciation of Northumberland place names - how much of it is the local accent and how much is actually the spelling not matching the sound? If a person from Northumberland came to London and tried to pronounce place names that don't match their spelling, they wouldn't sound the same as a local either but it doesn't mean they are "wrong".

 

[Calthrop]

Ah, south-west Scotland... admittedly I'm not good on accents of any kind; but I recall a brief sojourn a couple of decades ago, in a "communal living" set-up -- one of my fellows there was a young, working-class, lad from a town in those parts: I forget the "specifics" now, but think it could well have been Girvan. When I was "doing well", I could understand about one word in three of what he said; overall -- rather like my uncle with the Northumbrians -- his speech didn't seem to me to resemble any known language !

 

[Western Lord]

Yeah Northumberland is full of stuff like that.
prudhoe is prudda
cambois is cammis
ulgham is uffam
the list goes on.
and here in Ashinton it’s Eshntn

About fifty years ago I was on a train from Carlisle to Newcastle. It stopped at Prudhoe which for all I knew as a southerner was pronounced Prud Ho! old boy. There was an elderly woman sat with a young boy (presumably grandson) who said "where's this place". Granny replied Prudda (with the u pronounced as in pudding). Travel broadens the mind!

 

[oldman]

Once in Lindau I was listening to some older folk sitting on a bench overlooking Lake Constance. I couldn't work out what they were speaking - not German or Dutch, Slav or Romance. Then I heard 'a wee bag a sweeties'. Turned out they were from the North-East (Peterhead), just a few miles from my grandfather's birthplace - he was a surfaceman's son and lad o pairts who went to university then up, up and away. One couple even shared my surname.

 

[Killingworth]

Once in Lindau I was listening to some older folk sitting on a bench overlooking Lake Constance. I couldn't work out what they were speaking - not German or Dutch, Slav or Romance. Then I heard 'a wee bag a sweeties'. Turned out they were from the North-East (Peterhead), just a few miles from my grandfather's birthplace - he was a surfaceman's son and lad o pairts who went to university then up, up and away. One couple even shared my surname.

Returning to Northumberland, the land that once stretched from the Humber well into Scotland, there are differences between more local accents, although they're less marked as each decade passes.

A traditional Geordie born and bred within sight of the River Tyne would have a different accent from the Northumbrian from Alnwick who'd differ from one brought up in Haltwhistle. Although I didn't think I ever had an accent, and left Tyneside over 50 years ago, I'm occasionally sussed out by a keen eared listener who'll try to place me near Newcastle. I gather when I'm with others with similar background it comes out more.

 

[swt_passenger]

A traditional Geordie born and bred within sight of the River Tyne would have a different accent from the Northumbrian from Alnwick who'd differ from one brought up in Haltwhistle. Although I didn't think I ever had an accent, and left Tyneside over 50 years ago, I'm occasionally sussed out by a keen eared listener who'll try to place me near Newcastle. I gather when I'm with others with similar background it comes out more.

I was born in Alnwick, 3 of my grandparents were Alnwick born, then I grew up and was schooled in Gosforth then Newcastle, but have lived in Hampshire for 50 years now. My mother actively discouraged the more extreme aspects of the Geordie accent though, that I’d pick up at school. My wife (from East Yorkshire) thought my paternal grandfather was very difficult to understand. He had both parents from much nearer the border, Milfield and Chatton, and had a very strong Northumbrian accent.

My children soon realised and told me that my accent automatically changes to a sort of ‘light Geordie’ when in the Newcastle or Northumberland area, but I’m not at all sure where someone fully brought up in Alnwick would place me. It’s been suggested I don’t pronounce Alnmouth correctly, but then I only ever repeat how my parents said it…

But in the thread context I wouldn’t have ever visited much of the area covered by the modern Northumberland Line, so I wouldn’t have realised Newsham or Cowpen aren’t pronounced as written.

 

[Acfb]

Not a place name (a river/valley) but 'Coquet' is Cocket as well. I hadn't heard of it until I did a working holiday at the Cragside estate.

 

[Volvictof]

Not a place name (a river/valley) but 'Coquet' is Cocket as well. I hadn't heard of it until I did a working holiday at the Cragside estate.

I’ve not heard it said like that before but I do believe you. People up there have been very isolated over the centuries. It was once said that pWalpole of upper Coquetdale speak the closes thing to an Edwardian english that can be found anywhere today. The shepherds up there also call the village of Alwinton “Alnuntin”or something similar.
Although the vikings did make it quite far around Britain, up here they had the biggest effect. I’ve sat with a Danish guy and talked about how the Geordie language has similar words. for example we both say “bairn’ to mean child.

 

[Killingworth]

I’ve not heard it said like that before but I do believe you. People up there have been very isolated over the centuries. It was once said that pWalpole of upper Coquetdale speak the closes thing to an Edwardian english that can be found anywhere today. The shepherds up there also call the village of Alwinton “Alnuntin”or something similar.
Although the vikings did make it quite far around Britain, up here they had the biggest effect. I’ve sat with a Danish guy and talked about how the Geordie language has similar words. for example we both say “bairn’ to mean child.

Coquet? Neither my wife (also Newcastle born) nor I have ever heard it pronounced Cocket. Coeket more like. However many place have different local pronunciations - like Shroes-bury and Shrews-bury. The River Nen or Neen. Here in Sheffield Owlerton and Owler can be pronounced Ow or Oo. And is it a scon or scoan?

 

[Magdalia]

The River Nen or Neen.

The floods in Northampton make this one to listen out for. As the floodwaters head down river, will media pronunciation change accordingly?

 

[InkyScrolls]

Local ones to me are Barnoldswick - pronounced 'Barlick', and Appletreewick, pronounced 'Aptrick'.

 

[Acfb]

I’ve not heard it said like that before but I do believe you. People up there have been very isolated over the centuries. It was once said that pWalpole of upper Coquetdale speak the closes thing to an Edwardian english that can be found anywhere today. The shepherds up there also call the village of Alwinton “Alnuntin”or something similar.
Although the vikings did make it quite far around Britain, up here they had the biggest effect. I’ve sat with a Danish guy and talked about how the Geordie language has similar words. for example we both say “bairn’ to mean child.

This was a lady from Leeds who was saying it like Cocket-Dale. I thought it was strange but didn't know how it was pronounced.

 

[Killingworth]

This was a lady from Leeds who was saying it like Cocket-Dale. I thought it was strange but didn't know how it was pronounced.

The lady from Leeds would puzzle most Northumbrians with cocket. In my tine as a volunteer with National Trust I met quite a few visitors who spoke with apparent authority on subjects they... didn't know quite as well as they thought!

 

[181]

Bellingham and Chillingham aren't the same. But which way should Whittingham, Eglingham and others go? Belling-sjum or Chilling-am.

Whittingham and Eglingham have the 'jum' pronunciation (I know because a relative lived nearby for many years), leaving Chillingham as the exception among those four, but I couldn't tell you about others.

 

[Killingworth]

Whittingham and Eglingham have the 'jum' pronunciation (I know because a relative lived nearby for many years), leaving Chillingham as the exception among those four, but I couldn't tell you about others.

Basically, if it's in Northumberland and ends in -ingham it's jum - except for Chillingham. Chillingjum would sound ridiculous

 

[swt_passenger]

Whittingham and Eglingham have the 'jum' pronunciation (I know because a relative lived nearby for many years), leaving Chillingham as the exception among those four, but I couldn't tell you about others.

Edlingham is definitely another ‘jum’, not that sure about Ellingham though.

But if anyone’s into phonetics, I have a list of Northumberland and Durham place names and taking Edlingham as the example it shows:

“edlindžəm”.

as the pronunciation. Maybe that means something to an expert…

 

[Killingworth]

Edlingham is definitely another ‘jum’, not that sure about Ellingham though.

But if anyone’s into phonetics, I have a list of Northumberland and Durham place names and taking Edlingham as the example it shows:

“edlindžəm”.

as the pronunciation. Maybe that means something to an expert…

Ellingjum.

 

[Calthrop]

The floods in Northampton make this one to listen out for. As the floodwaters head down river, will media pronunciation change accordingly?

"Drinking and posting", never wisest idea; however, probably pretty harmless here. I gather that -- this probably well-known, and "things media" aside -- inhabitants up-river tend to say "Nen"; and down-river, "Neen". From what I gather: the "Neen" pronunciation is in everyday usage, gradually making its way upstream; reckoned last heard, Thrapston was the approx. division-point. One can wonder: as per your thoughts @Magdalia -- might recent regrettable happenings -- media-aided -- indeed alter for a while, division-point-location?

 

[Statto]

Not only in Northumberland, but theirs plenty of places around the UK that are pronounced differently from the way they're spelt.