GOING back 34 years to the pages of the Guardian, there was a feature, similar to this one titled ‘Talk of the Town.’ Reading a particular piece about local dialect I felt that it would be interesting to give an insight into the way us country folk spoke many years ago. 

The writer wished to remain anonymous and started the letter off: “As I write this it is January, 1913, my wife Helen and me have decided to write something down every month for a year, when we have done it we will put it all into a big envelope and hand it to the Northwich Guardian with orders not to be opened until 1986. 

“It will give folks in seventy or so years from now an insight into how we lived, ate and most of all what we talked about, by gum”. 

So I think it is right to enjoy this insight into the dialect spoken at the turn of the last century. Sam and Helen are chatting…

“January 1, 1913. It rained all day long, and when I got home, I was wet through.”

Sam: “Hast getten any baylin waater Helen? Ah’m wet through.”

Helen: “Ah’ve getten thray pon full on th fire. Ah knowed thad be wet. Go and get that galvanized bath. Its engin up o’er the slopston. Fetch it in on th arth, in front o’th fire.”

“Ah’ll get thee a cleyan singlet an shirt, an eng them oer the over dooer, warrm em up a bit, Oh, th’ll want fresh stockins an aw.” 

Sam: “Ah . Aw reet wench., Then we’ll ave a bit o tay. What’s getten? Owt teesty?”

Helen: “A’ve put some beacon n Chayse in the’ Dutch oven – oh an some sossidge. They’ll cook theyer wayl thart weshin theysel.”

A few minutes later.

Sam: “Helen! Come an sey ter thayze sossidge, tha’ll be avin em brunt. Ey, luck eyer what tha’s done. Tha’s gen me odd stockins! Get me th other one, marrer to this brine un.”
Later.

Sam: “That wus grand missus – thenk yr! Ay, its gone reenin. When th’s weesht up, put thee cooert on, an we’ll ave a sauner up the leen an pey this tontine. Come in andy at Christmas.”

Helen: “Oh, be quayert lad. Ween only just getten o’er th last un!”

Well, that was a chat that could be heard in many mid Cheshire homesteads, workplaces, and pubs. My spell check has imploded but I hope you enjoy it. I will have to find some period photos now. If you have not heard this dialect before, just read it slowly, you will unnerstand it.

  • Did you grow up with this dialect or know someone who still speaks this way today? Leave your comments below.