REPEAT - COCKNEYS AND THEIR LONDON BELLS......

See how you’re apple peeling and let’s have a rabbit ‘n’ pork over a ship in full sail or a sticky toffee .......Ever wondered why there were no Cockneys born in London during the War? The reason behind all those pearly buttons? ….. Why they developed their unique language…?

Let’s take a closer look at this vibrant group of individuals, with their unique rhyming slang, whose origins and presence are so much part of our old London traditions and lifestyle…… and take a trip back in time to 17th and 18th century London to explore some of the churches mentioned in the old nursery rhyme and re-discover more of our city's history before the devastation of the Great Fire of 1666…..

Whilst most English children are raised with the shortened version of the nursery rhyme “Oranges and Lemons”, published in 1771, the original version, believed to have originated in 1665 before the Great Fire of 1666, described the various trades and activities in the neighbourhood of the London bells they mention:

"Oranges and Lemons" say the Bells of St. Clements (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-st-clements.htm)
"Bullseyes and Targets" say the Bells of St. Margaret's (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-st-margarets.htm)
"Brickbats and Tiles" say the Bells of St. Giles (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-st-giles.htm)
"Halfpence and Farthings" say the Bells of St. Martin's (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-st-martins.htm)
"Pancakes and Fritters" say the Bells of St. Peter's (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-st-peters.htm)
"Two Sticks and an Apple" say the Bells of Whitechapel (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-whitechapel.htm)
"Maids in white aprons" say the Bells at St. Katherine's (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-st-katherine.htm)
"Pokers and Tongs" say the Bells of St. John's (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-st-john.htm)
"Kettles and Pans" say the Bells of St. Anne's (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-st-anne.htm)
"Old Father Baldpate" say the slow Bells of Aldgate (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-aldgate.htm)
"You owe me Ten Shillings" say the Bells of St. Helen's (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-st-helen.htm)
"When will you Pay me?" say the Bells of Old Bailey (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-old-bailey.htm)
"When I grow Rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-shoreditch.htm)
"Pray when will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-stepney.htm)
"I do not know" says the Great Bell of Bow (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/bells-bow.htm)
Gay go up and gay go down
To Ring the Bells of London Town

In a walk of about 2 1/2 hours, we’ll be visiting some of the perhaps slightly lesser known church environments mentioned in the old rhyme and learning about the meaning of these words that have been passed down through the generations… We finish the walk in the vicinity of St. Paul's/Bank underground stations, with an option for a coffee, drink or bite to eat…….

Jacquelyn mob: 0785 793 1296 (not a Smart phone)