Birmingham and the West Midlands contain such a rich variety of lewd-sounding street names that people often assume that our local councils were once infiltrated by members of the ‘Carry On’ team. Here are just a few of our favourites:

Allcock Street, Digbeth, B9

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Not a sly reference to Digbeth’s burgeoning hipster scene. Not at all.

Balls Street, Walsall, WS1

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It should have been a cul-de-sac.

Beaver Close, Wolverhampton, WV11

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Surely this must be Wolverhampton’s tribute to Leslie Nielsen?

It’s not, and don’t call me Shirley (because that’s in Solihull)

Bell End, Rowley Regis, B65

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Well played, Rowley Regis. Well played.

The Butts, Walsall, WS4

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A 10 minute walk from Balls Street. You’re good at this, Walsall…

Bush Grove, Walsall, WS3

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…almost too good.

Cock Hill Lane, Rednal, B45

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Not far from the equally dodgy-sounding ‘Lickey Hills’. More on that later.

Emmanuel Road, Wylde Green, B73

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If 1974 French movie ‘Emmanuelle’ became a by-word for (ahem) certain types of films, then 1978’s ‘Carry On Emmanuelle’ must have seemed like the ‘Batman v Superman’ of smut.

(Aficionados of the genre should note that nearby Walmley has a Vixen Close…)

Hardon Road, Wolverhampton, WV4

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Oh, Wolverhampton – you just had to go there, didn’t you?

Hole Lane, Bournville, B31

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Idyllic Bournville, that Shangri-La of suburban sobriety, with its ornate cricket pavilions and big chocolate factory. But wait – what’s this hidden in the shrubbery?

Horne Way, Shard End, B34

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And here comes Shard End with some stiff competition.

Ladycroft, Edgbaston, B16

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Oh Edgbaston – you and your fancy euphemisms.

Long Wood, Bournville, B30

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Not you again, Bournville? Guess it’s true what they say about those Oompa Loompas…

Lovelace Avenue, Solihull, B91

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Linda Lovelace was the star of notorious X-rated ’70s flick ‘Deep Throat’. Don’t Google it at work.

Lye Close Lane, Quinton, B32

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No, Quinton – if you don’t mind I’d rather take the sofa.

(See also Loyns Close, Chelmsley Wood)

Mount Pleasant, Kings Heath, B14

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Kings Heath, you’re one smooth-talking suburb.

Stud Lane, Stechford, B33

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Look at you Stechford, with your big gold medallion and Burt Reynolds’ moustache…

Tracey’s Meadow, Rednal, B45

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Your attempt at twee Edgbaston-esque subtlety isn’t fooling anyone, Rednal.

Twatling Road, Lickey, B45

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And last but not least there’s Twatling Road, which can be found just south Lickey Hills and thereby offering two innuendos for the price of one. Proof, if proof were needed, that the A-Z of the region contains a lot of XXXs. Perhaps the town planners of yesteryear all need a cold shower and some therapy.

All photos by yours truly. This originally appeared on Time Out.

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