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Original poster

Are people insular in rural villages in the north?

75 replies

bellaiceberg · 22/10/2021 21:45

Im already in the north but looking to move. I like peace and quiet, wfh and am happy renting.

I have been looking at a few places, villages surrounding carries look quite beautiful and are very affordable (my rent limit is around £700pcm) for the north.

I did a bit of research on MN (possibly not a good idea haha!) and many people said villages around carlisle and in the north are insular.

God help me i don't want that. I can take eccentric, weird, arty, whatever but not progressively... backward.

Anyone have experience?
Am with long term DP and we can both work anywhere in the uk but would prefer to remain within a decent train distance to north west due to family/friends. We re currently in Garstang.

OP posts:
Ifailed · 23/10/2021 10:29

Don't know about insular, but you are referring to part of the Debatable Lands, and for centuries the people who lived there shun all outside interference from both the Scots and the English.
The Border Reivers regularly rustled cattle from neighbouring communities, often stripping houses bare of all furniture etc. Presumably nowadays they are little more welcoming.

Puffalicious · 23/10/2021 10:33

Come up to Scotland. We're dead friendly. Just don't bring London house prices with you and buy up all the property, raising prices out of reach for locals. That REALLY pisses us off. Apart from that we're great, and unless you're near Edinburgh your rental money will go bit further.

whosaidtha · 23/10/2021 10:38

I hate how northerners are depicted as different from southerners. As of something happens around Birmingham turning us into Neanderthals. I remember a poster who was shocked that there were houses in the north worth £1million.

Divebar2021 · 23/10/2021 10:56

I don’t know how London has been dragged into this…. This is nothing to do with London. The OPs in the North. Of course people in villages ( anywhere) can be insular if they don’t get exposed to different people / cultures/ lifestyle. Even if a person never left Richmond ( in London) they would be exposed to a high churn of people who visit / live in that area. Im from a village and a market town in the East Midlands - it’s not as progressive as the town I live in now which although a similar size draws in people for its art school / theatre school and close proximity to London.

FlatteredFool · 23/10/2021 10:58

They talk funny up North you know.

Puffalicious · 23/10/2021 11:09

@FlatteredFool

They talk funny up North you know.
Christ, we even have a different language up here. Eeek!
FlatteredFool · 23/10/2021 11:26

Grin I'm Northern but not Northern Northern so don't speak as funny as some might. My dad was a Yorkshireman. I adore the North. It's beautiful and varied and I've always found most people lovely. I only live down south briefly and they were definitely different and they definitely speak funny Grin I'd love to live in a little village up in North Yorkshire or Northumberland. As long as there's good internet and Waitrose delivery of course. They get better snow up there for a start. What's not to love.

Puffalicious · 23/10/2021 11:28

@FlatteredFool

Grin I'm Northern but not Northern Northern so don't speak as funny as some might. My dad was a Yorkshireman. I adore the North. It's beautiful and varied and I've always found most people lovely. I only live down south briefly and they were definitely different and they definitely speak funny Grin I'd love to live in a little village up in North Yorkshire or Northumberland. As long as there's good internet and Waitrose delivery of course. They get better snow up there for a start. What's not to love.
Great post. Northumberland gets my vote too, along with the Highlands.
FlatteredFool · 23/10/2021 11:34

I've never been to Northumberland or the highlands. Yet. They are on my list. Before covid struck I had a trip to Durham planned but it's on hold for now. I'm reading a series of books set up there and am totally in love with the scenery and the places described. I love watching Vera for that reason too.

KingsleyShacklebolt · 23/10/2021 11:34

Seriously OP, have you ever heard the expression advising you that when you're in a hole, stop digging?

Hmm

Of course there are some "backward", homophobic and racist people in small villages in the "north". Just as there are in London, the Cotswolds, Liverpool, large towns in Herfordshire and hamlets in Lincolnshire.

But seriously, this idea you have in your head about small villages being barely civilised is doing you no favours at all. Whatever you say about not being offensive, you are judgey and sneery about people who live in northern villages without even realising you're doing it.

QuestionableMouse · 23/10/2021 11:41

My village is in Country Durham and yep, there's some people who view "outsiders" in a bad way. My Auntie lived in my current house for 50+ years but was never seen as a villager (nor am I despite having family connections in the village for that long) cause we weren't born into the village but moved in as adults.

It's a small minority and honestly I just ignore it. Taking part in stuff like organising the village fair or Christmas Market helps with fitting in though.

(Also, do consider the North East - so much of it is glorious and in general the people are lovely!)

TheCumbrian · 23/10/2021 12:04

@FlatteredFool

They talk funny up North you know.
They really do talk funny in Carlisle/West Cumbria

Its a very soft accent with hints of north east and Scottish Borders accents, but still very English not Scottish.

No one else in the rest of Cumbria talks like that.

BeetleyCarapace · 23/10/2021 12:08

Insular is a mindset, not a postcode.

FanGirlX · 23/10/2021 12:13

@NigelSlatersXmasTaters

Everyone's easily offended tonight.

What's making you think Carlisle area? Have you looked at the north east? That gets a lot of good press on here.

Or what about somewhere around the Bay? Cartmel?

Cartmel is mega expensive now. I heard someone describe it as the Didsbury of Cumbria the other day.
FanGirlX · 23/10/2021 12:20

@TheCumbrian

I have a friend from Workington, he has that accent and it's lovely. I remember when I first met him, I couldn't place his accent, for the reasons you describe.

GuyFawkesDay · 23/10/2021 12:22

I have family from Eden valley. It's a gorgeous accent. I love it. Much nicer than my Lancashire one!!

Andante57 · 23/10/2021 12:23

@MrsPsmalls

If this isn't a joke it is offensive in more or less every way.
This
Firesidefox · 23/10/2021 12:25

@MichelleScarn

Is this another one of those, I am so in inclusive and accepting as long as its 'cool and arty'?
Ha! Exactly what I thought
Puffalicious · 23/10/2021 13:01

@FlatteredFool

I've never been to Northumberland or the highlands. Yet. They are on my list. Before covid struck I had a trip to Durham planned but it's on hold for now. I'm reading a series of books set up there and am totally in love with the scenery and the places described. I love watching Vera for that reason too.
I can highly recommend Northumberland. We've spent a lot of time there and the kids also love it: the beaches are wild and sublime. It's a lot nearer for us (central Scotland) than the Highlands. My dream is to move to Morar- Google the Silver Sands of Morar, but Northumberland does have more around it and I think would be better to live because of that. Enjoy both when you can visit.
groundcontroltomontydon · 23/10/2021 13:29

Maybe swerve Royston Vasey

Original poster
bellaiceberg · 23/10/2021 13:41

@KingsleyShacklebolt

Seriously OP, have you ever heard the expression advising you that when you're in a hole, stop digging? Hmm

Of course there are some "backward", homophobic and racist people in small villages in the "north". Just as there are in London, the Cotswolds, Liverpool, large towns in Herfordshire and hamlets in Lincolnshire.

But seriously, this idea you have in your head about small villages being barely civilised is doing you no favours at all. Whatever you say about not being offensive, you are judgey and sneery about people who live in northern villages without even realising you're doing it.

I think you need to get out more. cheer up love.
OP posts:
Original poster
bellaiceberg · 23/10/2021 13:48

And more to the point, most of the insults I have witnessed aimed at northerners and narrow-mindedness have come from mumsnet searches on the places.
Rather ironic that, isn't it?

In fact, it was what I had read here on discussions about Cumbria that made me post. I wanted more info and to clarify why so many posters were saying they'd avoid small villages. So if I have picked up any offensive descriptions of the north, it's on here.

I find it interesting how people will go to such lengths to deny this actually happens. It's like some sort of MN gaslighting situation.

I apologised for pretty much doing fuck all and one whining prune had to attempt to push me down further - good old bully tactics.

"digging a hole further',.....just get a fucking life.

OP posts:
AutumnWreath · 23/10/2021 17:04

Have a look at Brampton , a lovely village .

Perihelion · 23/10/2021 17:59

If you look at that rental property, Warwick Hall, on Google maps, far from being quiet the a huge marquee used for weddings next to the attached cottage.

GuyFawkesDay · 23/10/2021 19:01

Also floods by Warwick Hall.

Brampton is lovely.

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