The problem with quaint 'biscuit-tin' villages

14 posts / 0 new

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Sat, 2004-12-11 01:45

Is that all those cosy - if slightly cramped - labourer's cottages are owned by financial advisors and new-media millionaires, and the landlord at Ye Olde Village Pub always turns out to be a retired newspaper editor.

The real villagers live closer to the main road in ugly Victorian terraced houses with front gardens full of rotting motorbike engines, baths and scabby cats.

Sun, 2004-12-12 12:15

ely whitley

me too, my vilage has a canal running through the middle where longboats trickle along in the summer and people stop for a quick pint at one of the only 2 local pubs, too far from any motorways to have commuters but the occasional flash motor and big house. The rest is just farmers and pikeys and the women's institute

Sun, 2004-12-12 14:37

Ralph

Hi George Yeah, I have been to the folk festival in South Petherton a couple of times. It was great. The village was taken up with music and theatre and stuff. The main hall was the 'David Hall (I'm sure you know it). I once saw John Martyn play there. They were great times now sadly gone. Nice one mate.

Sat, 2004-12-11 01:51

Liana

Not so. Sorry.

Sat, 2004-12-11 02:13

martin_t

have you been watching midsummer murders again , karl?

Sat, 2004-12-11 12:00

neil_the_auditor

Maybe that's the Cotswolds you're talking about, Karl. If you're a long way from motorways and main rail lines to London, and the nearest seaside resorts are full of nasty caravan sites and Butlin's camps, you'll find "real villagers" easily enough.

Sat, 2004-12-11 14:56

radiodenver

Karl, You're also descibing Colorado mountain towns....

Sat, 2004-12-11 15:24

Flash

Are they full of right wing Nazi bastards?

Sat, 2004-12-11 17:28

radiodenver

I wouldn't call them "right wing Nazi bastards"....More like "left wing commie pinko's".... They smell the same though.

Sat, 2004-12-11 17:36

#10

Ralph

Informed as ever Mr Wiggins. I once worked on a huge community theatre project in a small village in Somerset for three months. It was the lovliest time. Real people, pubs and intelligance. Biscuit tin yes, broken biscuit no. I still have friends there. What on earth made you say that Karl?

Sat, 2004-12-11 17:37

#11

Ralph

The village was called 'South Petherton', I forgot to add that.

Sat, 2004-12-11 18:28

#12

mississippi

I know South Petherton well, having been part of the annual folk festival there (now defunct, due to the deaths of crucial organisers) both as a performer and an MC over a period of years. The locals DO refer to outsiders as 'grockles' though in the main I found them sociable.

Sun, 2004-12-12 00:14

#13

Karl Wiggins

Grockles is also the name given to holiday-makers in Bournemouth.

Sun, 2004-12-12 00:22

#14

Liana

I live in a biscuit tin village... and it lives up to every preconceived traditional notion of how village life is. I feel like I'm living in an episode of "heartbeat" at times... no property developers here, no incomers (too far from the London line - thank FUCK). We have seven village pubs - all owned by long time locals (and they dont charge a fiver for a pint either). It's great, I bloody love it.

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