Where to Cockneys come from

[pinkjudy45]

I always thought they came from Bow, but someone has said they are from Cheapside E.C.4, also is Marylebone in the same area?

[MarkRae]

Born within the sound of Bow Bells, which is different from Bow.

[boxtops]

They are traditionally born within the sound of Bow Bells.

[daftgrandad]

To be a true Cockney,I believe you have to have been born,within the sound of
Bow Bells.

[pinkjudy45]

Thnakyou MarkRae and boxtops, but what part of London is Bow Bells?

[DTCwordfan]

Pakistan or India.

[Prudie]

Bow bells is from the church of St Mary-Le-Bow in Cheapside.

[MarkRae]

http://www.stmarylebo.../bow-bells/4535373284

[DTCwordfan]

St Mary-le-Bow

[rowanwitch]

I suppose now one should say the un-amplified/broadcast or otherwise transmitted sound otherwise we are all potentially cockneys

[pinkjudy45]

Thankyou everyone for all your trouble in answering my daft question.

[emmie]

cheapside is nowhere near marylebone. Perhaps you are thinking of St Mary Le Bow,

[boxtops]

It's St Mary le Bow church, off Cheapside - and yes, it's EC4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary-le-Bow

Marylebone is a different district in the City of Westminster, and although the names sound similar, they are from different ancient sources.

[johnny37]

The original meaning 'within the sound of Bow bells' is an antiquated description when London was an extremely small city. You cannot call yourself a Cockney just because you happened to be born at Barts Hospital five minutes up the road. Its now used to describe any working class Londoner with a so-called Cockney accent. The accent has probably disappeared as well in the true sense if you listen to the accents which were derived from it, such as Basildon.