To be annoyed my mum says I’m a snob for this

[BrendaBubbles]

It’s relevant to note that I am from a working class background and last year I moved into a flat in an actually “naice” area of the northern town I grew up in. The number of the flat has “A” after it because it was originally the upstairs of a single Edwardian townhouse and the ground floor has the number only.. for example I have 69A and downstairs they have 69.

I thought having the A just looked a bit rubbish and a friend suggested that I could instead give the flat a name and register it with the post office and so on to use it officially. So I went through this rigmarole and my flat is now called something along the lines of Brenda Tower then the road name etc (not exactly that name due to privacy!)

I thought it was quite a fun thing to do but when I told my DM she went berserk and said she was disappointed because she hadn’t brought me up to be so snobby about something like an address and that moving to this part of town has made me into a worse person. I thought she was joking at first but she is really holding me in contempt for it and makes annoying references to how “posh” and “too good” I am at family gatherings and things. Other than having a nice flat in a nice area and giving it my own name, Am I actually being unreasonable?? Lots of people with cottages and things have house names so why can’t my flat?

You’ve been unlucky enough to trigger a bit of a pile-on OP, with some tin-eared mean spirited comments - happens with the most bizarrely innocuous posts sometimes. You naming your home is a fun and quirky, whimsical personalisation. The responses about no-one finding your house conveniently forget that A’s B’s and C’s get muddled post too!
However, quibbling about whether or not it’s pretentious/naff/all the other negging personal criticisms seems to totally miss the main point of your post - your Mum’s response. Your Mum’s response is cruel, her bullying you in front of your family in such a personal way especially so. My parents were working class, and any successes they had were celebrated by their parents, and they passed that on. I am so happy to see my kids succeed, and would hate to undermine them. If they want to do quirky fun things, I wouldn’t dream of trying to knock them down in front of other people. It must be hurtful to you, and I’d say so to your Mum.
Love your daft sign - you continue basking in enjoyment of your home!

You have named your property after yourself? As in the Queen has Windsor Castle. One of my friends who's family estate is the same as his surname (slight change incase outing), but he's a Langley and lives in "Langley Hall"

You've called your flat, "Smith Towers" and say it's because you didn't like the a on the end of 69a and not for completely pretentious reasons. Completely agree with other PP that you don't look posh. It's completely Hyacinth Bucket. And whilst your mother is over reacting in scale, she's not wrong on the principle.

@julieca

No old and new houses it is the same. Total snobbery to say age makes a difference.

I don't follow the line of thought that leads you to say snobbery. Not disagreeing, just wondered if you could explain?

I once lived in a teeny rustic 1850s cottage that was named. All of the houses/cottages on the road were built early 1800s and were all named, but someone had come along and numbered them at some point too. They weren't twee names. Most of the owners had both name and number on the building.

Yeah sorry I think it's a bit ridiculous. Like you don't want people to know you live in a flat.

It's also really silly. I bloody hate when streets are all houses with names, there is zero way of knowing where one should be. Especially with yours being a flat about a full number house.

@BrendaBubbles

Is the smaller sign in your photo the number? How on earth is any one going to know which flat to go to if it’s just a name?
If I was visiting your house as part of my job would you just tell me the name or both name and number?

OP I think it's the most brilliant thing ever that you've named your flat. You have made my day. More power to you.

As long as the number 69 is still there so people can find it, it's not impractical. Bit weird but I mean so what really.

And the towers bit on a second floor flat is obviously a joke!

Ah come on OP you must be ripping the piss with that sign, it's brilliant

Our neighbours put up a comedy sign that says "Dunroamin" with a really naff picture of some flowers on it. Sounds like you have a similar sense of humour

Is this the only pretentious thing you have done, OP?
I suspect not

Is the smaller sign in your photo the number?

Yes. My landlord said there was absolutely no way I could get rid of the number entirely but I could add the name. I just don’t use it on Amazon, Ocado, address at the doctors and work and stuff like that but the number still “works” if needed. I’m not sure what happens if ever I move out because it comes up when you search the postcode online now but I’m sure they’ll get over it

@BrendaBubbles

do you have problems with deliveries or do you just write above number 70 or whatever

I had a sign made up with the name as I’m the only one up the stairs. It’s not a block.

Oh I love it!!! It's so obviously done for a laugh/to add a bit of character. You've still got the number your mum needs to lighten up

Some are funny about this.

My parents have a house with just a name, 30s I think. Has never had a number.

The other 3 houses on the road are all name only as well.

That's because the first house had a lot of land which was sold and 3 houses built.

That house was 1 and then 2 is over a side road.

So they could have done 1a 1b 1c 1d 2 3 etc when they built them.

But gave the first 4 names instead.

Anyway. My mil was really odd about it. Going on ooh they've all taken their numbers off. Hmph. Wanting to look posh etc.

And once was going on what number is it then? Never had thought about it before so was thinking um so that was 1 so I suppose 1a that one 1b etc.

She was really sorry of smug and odd about it all the time.

I mean who gives s fuck? As long as it's easy to find. And what was I supposed to say? Yeah the original builders and post office etc made a really bad decision?

Really weird.

She was really confrontational with me about it!

I feel for you OP. The first Xmas I came back from university I came back with a pepper mill. We never had black pepper at home and I had 'learned' that it was really nice. My mum immediately labelled me a snob!

I think it's a weird thing to do, but just own it.

Mum: Brenda's all posh now, she has a flat with a name instead of a number
Brenda: yes I am well posh, these day, but just ask the butler, he'll tell you I'm still quite down to earth.

I think if you do bizarre, idiosyncratic thing you have to stick by your choices and accept that it's weird, but it's important to you.

Getting rid of the number would be ridiculous on a road with at least 69 houses!

Not snobby but,well,a little eccentric.
Plus you typed 'naice '....horrible word 😂

Seriously you're amazing for doing this. Bet the post people love it.

Really naff thing to do

Our house doesn't have a number. It's a pain in the arse.

We live on a lane out in the sticks at the top of a hill. At the bottom of the hill (maybe 1/2 a mile away) there are 12 houses which do have numbers.

Carry on up the hill and round a few corners and you get to ours and 5 other houses which don't have numbers and never have had. We're all spread out and round corners, behind hedges, etc, so delivery drivers first find only the 12 houses with numbers and no names and get confused by that.

If they do venture up the hill they will find 1 or 2 more houses but then sometimes think that must be the last of the houses and go no further.

If we had numbers it would be a lot simpler!

All I can think of is Casa bevron

You’re not a snob, it’s very nearly the opposite, incredibly chav.

My parents Edwardian_era house was built for servants and has bells to ring and a name.

So, befits the house.

I have a three bed 70s semi which would look stupid with a name.

Just saying..

However it's a free country and you must do what you like:)

OP, so is the word before “Towers” your actual surname?

Big expensive, posh houses have names around here. So I can see why your Mum would react that way to it. However, she mentioned things in the past. So there's obviously a lot more to the story than you're telling us.

I had no idea the naming or otherwise of a property had such social implications, I can't say I've ever given it two seconds thought. Lots of people with too much time on their hands methinks.

My parents have a house with a name and a number, but it came like that when they bought it.

Mine just has a number and I can't say I'd be arsed if it had a name or not, makes no difference to me.