Comment: Do comedy street names affect house prices?
Bell End, Rowley Regis, West Midlands (Google Street View) - Credit: Archant
Apparently, residents of Bell End in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, are convinced that their street’s comedy name has depressed property prices by up to £60,000.
Local children are bullied for living there, they say. Residents are so upset that they’ve started a petition calling for the street’s name to be changed.
The petition reads: “As you may be aware, the term ‘bell end’ can be seen and used as a rude and/ or offensive word.
“It can affect people including children being bullied and teased at school and has generally now become a laughing stock, as seen very recently on Facebook and other social media sites, and it’s time for a change.”
Ouch. Don’t move to Bell End, people – it sounds awful. I’d be expecting a £60k discount at the very least.
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Funny-sounding place names aren’t restricted to Rowley Regis of course. I grew up near Goole and, as a student, I lived close to Newington Butts. Butts! My six-year-old would love to live there.
From Backside Lane to Fanny Street, Britain boasts chortlesome street names aplenty – the residents of Bell End are not alone.
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Herts isn’t short on rudely-named places either, with Bummers Hill, near Buntingford and Trotters Bottom, Barnet, among the most outstanding.
St Albans is home to Snatchup Alley and its drinkers have a choice of The Cock and Ye Olde Fighting Cocks if they want a Carry On-style giggle between pints.
I’d also argue that the residents of Cockbush Avenue in Hertford are potentially having a more challenging time of it than the people of Bell End.
So, what do you reckon: would you avoid buying a home on Bell End in case your kids got bullied and your house dipped in value? Or would you make the most of the £60k discount and accept you’ll be in for the same when you come to sell – or cross your fingers that the name will have been changed by then? Let us know on jane.howdle@archant.co.uk.
