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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/money/shortcuts/2018/jan/03/from-grope-lane-to-bell-end-do-rude-street-names-affect-house-prices
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| From Grope Lane to Bell End: do rude street names affect house prices? | From Grope Lane to Bell End: do rude street names affect house prices? |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| The residents of a rudely named road in the West Midlands have launched a petition to have its name changed, the official reason being to ‘protect their kids’ from bullying | |
| Gavin Haynes | |
| Wed 3 Jan 2018 17.38 GMT | |
| Last modified on Wed 3 Jan 2018 22.00 GMT | |
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| As if we didn’t have enough to worry about in 2018 – what with the continued march to extinction of the natterjack toad and the turtle dove – the year opens with news that our our ancient heritage of rude street names is also evaporating. | As if we didn’t have enough to worry about in 2018 – what with the continued march to extinction of the natterjack toad and the turtle dove – the year opens with news that our our ancient heritage of rude street names is also evaporating. |
| Shiteburn Lane in the City of London is long gone – its medieval name was transformed into the more palatable Sherborne Lane. The residents of nearby Pissing Lane soon followed suit, perhaps fearing their name would be viewed as an instruction. It became part of Cannon Street. | Shiteburn Lane in the City of London is long gone – its medieval name was transformed into the more palatable Sherborne Lane. The residents of nearby Pissing Lane soon followed suit, perhaps fearing their name would be viewed as an instruction. It became part of Cannon Street. |
| Now, we are about to lose one of our most distinctive: Bell End, in Sandwell in the West Midlands. As befits the times, the question has been framed in terms of thinking-of-the-children: the fear that kids “could be bullied” because of their address has been used to launch a residents’ petition that has attracted 12 signatures. | Now, we are about to lose one of our most distinctive: Bell End, in Sandwell in the West Midlands. As befits the times, the question has been framed in terms of thinking-of-the-children: the fear that kids “could be bullied” because of their address has been used to launch a residents’ petition that has attracted 12 signatures. |
| Others suspect that the true motive might be different. Several surveys have shown that a rude name can lower the property prices – in one, it was suggested by around a fifth. | Others suspect that the true motive might be different. Several surveys have shown that a rude name can lower the property prices – in one, it was suggested by around a fifth. |
| On Minge Lane in Worcestershire, which was voted “the rudest” name in a 2014 poll, average house prices in 2013 were £169 000. However, on nearby Furlongs Road they averaged £227,000. In another deeply unscientific comparison, a property on Butts Road in Wolverhampton can be had for an average of £145,824, while abutting Wakeley Hill is up at £212,311. | On Minge Lane in Worcestershire, which was voted “the rudest” name in a 2014 poll, average house prices in 2013 were £169 000. However, on nearby Furlongs Road they averaged £227,000. In another deeply unscientific comparison, a property on Butts Road in Wolverhampton can be had for an average of £145,824, while abutting Wakeley Hill is up at £212,311. |
| Of course, this is not a consistent phenomenon. A quick check on Zoopla reveals that while the current average price for a property on The Knob, near Banbury, stands at £429,727, on Glebe Rise opposite, it is £417,210. | Of course, this is not a consistent phenomenon. A quick check on Zoopla reveals that while the current average price for a property on The Knob, near Banbury, stands at £429,727, on Glebe Rise opposite, it is £417,210. |
| Given the boost it may or may not give to your house price to live on a street with a sanitised street name, it seems obvious that this extinction won’t arrive at the hands of pettifogging council bureaucrats. Instead, it will come via sharp-elbowed homeowners looking to profit. | Given the boost it may or may not give to your house price to live on a street with a sanitised street name, it seems obvious that this extinction won’t arrive at the hands of pettifogging council bureaucrats. Instead, it will come via sharp-elbowed homeowners looking to profit. |
| Witness the disappearance of England’s many Gropecunts. In the same way that even most hamlets have a London Road, or a Church Street, the street name was a common feature of medieval England – signifying where prostitution occured in the town. Now, there isn’t a single one left, only Grope Lane in Shrewsbury. | Witness the disappearance of England’s many Gropecunts. In the same way that even most hamlets have a London Road, or a Church Street, the street name was a common feature of medieval England – signifying where prostitution occured in the town. Now, there isn’t a single one left, only Grope Lane in Shrewsbury. |
| In 2015, a civic-minded citizen started a petition to return the street name to England. It was rejected. But as a nation still proud to send Americans into chuckle spasms with spotted dick, we should celebrate our historic smut. After all, if we can return the Eurasian beaver and the wild boar to our natural landscape, why not re-wild our mucky street names? | In 2015, a civic-minded citizen started a petition to return the street name to England. It was rejected. But as a nation still proud to send Americans into chuckle spasms with spotted dick, we should celebrate our historic smut. After all, if we can return the Eurasian beaver and the wild boar to our natural landscape, why not re-wild our mucky street names? |
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