19 of the West Midlands' sauciest streets • Tom Lennon

Ads

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

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

Balls Street, Walsall, WS1

It should have been a cul-de-sac.

Beaver Close, Wolverhampton, WV11

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

Well played, Rowley Regis. Well played.

The Butts, Walsall, WS4

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

Bush Grove, Walsall, WS3

…almost too good.

Cock Hill Lane, Rednal, B45

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

Emmanuel Road, Wylde Green, B73

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

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

Hole Lane, Bournville, B31

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

And here comes Shard End with some stiff competition.

Ladycroft, Edgbaston, B16

Oh Edgbaston – you and your fancy euphemisms.

Long Wood, Bournville, B30

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

Lovelace Avenue, Solihull, B91

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

Lye Close Lane, Quinton, B32

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

(See also Loyns Close, Chelmsley Wood)

Mount Pleasant, Kings Heath, B14

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

Stud Lane, Stechford, B33

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

Tracey’s Meadow, Rednal, B45

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

Twatling Road, Lickey, B45

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.