In the Middle Ages the word Cockney was used by country people as a derogatory reference for effeminate townies who no longer did the “real work” of toiling on the land. Its literal translation is “cock’s egg”. Today the term Cockney is used to refer to one born within the sound of Bow bells, and is characterised by the pearlie outfits and colourful rhyming slang.

Before the advent of traffic and aircraft, the famous Bow bells in the church of St Mary-Le Bow in Cheapside could be heard ringing out from the City eastwards across Tower Hamlets, Islington and Hackney, south to Southwark and as far north as parts of Camden and Waltham Forest. Nowadays Bow bells can only be heard in a small area of the City and Shoreditch. Since this area does not currently contain any maternity wards, this has drastically affected the chances of anyone being born a Cockney in time-honoured tradition! However, the best traditions never die. There will always be rhyming slang, there will always be Pearlies and wherever there are Londoners there will always be a Sing-Song!

The Cockney Sing-Song, Brick Lane Music Hall, September 14th – 20th 2016.