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The Barley Mow, Ward End (or anywhere else)

Pedrocut

Pedrocut

Master Barmmie
Over many years I used to visit the Barley Mow in Ward End now and again.

Now my trouble and strife comes up from Somerset, and a few days ago I mentioned the said Hostelry and we had a heated argument as to how it should be pronounced.

She said mow as in mow the lawn, and I said mow as in “cow” and the Staffordshire place name Mow Cop.

What do Brummies think?

Yours in anticipation, Pedro
 
It is Mow as in mow the lawn.
A mow is a stack of Barley,or any other grain.when kept in a barn.
 
You will never stop me calling it Mow as in Cow. I don't think you will ever hear a Brummie calling Mow as in mow the lawn
 
Pedrocut, being up from Somerset meself your trouble an strife is right for down our way but having been among you Brummies and met many Black Country folk for a long time now I would have to say you right in this part of the country. I therefore declare the result to be a draw:D
 
As a true brummie born within the sight of Villa Park i cant be responsible for our good country folk not knowing their mows from their mows silly old moos. Dek:rolleyes::rolleyes::D
 
Thanks everyone, but I really need more support if I am to have another "bull and cow" with the her who must be obeyed!

Regards Peter
 
Alberta said:
It is Mow as in mow the lawn.
A mow is a stack of Barley,or any other grain.when kept in a barn.
Click to expand...
quite rght the Barley Mow in Bartley Green has and always was pronounced MOW as in lawn sorry Froth I am from other side of Brum lol the posh part:P
 
OtherHalf said:
quite rght the Barley Mow in Bartley Green has and always was pronounced MOW as in lawn sorry Froth I am from other side of Brum lol the posh part:P
Click to expand...

I don't care it's MOW as in COW and your all SNOBS;)
Anyway I always MOW the grass
 
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Attended a few weddings in the Barley Mow in years gone by, definately mow as in cow for me! I can't remember anyone pronouncing it any differently to be honest.

Macca
 
The Barley Mow in Solihull has had a few name changes over the years, But to most folk it will always be the Barley Mow as in cow.
 
I used to go to the Bromford Tubes Club on Bromford lane with me Mom and Dad most weekends, with me big bottle of pop, I was happy.
A lovely lady ( I thought she was Beautiful:love: ) got on stage and sang this song all the way through and then downed a pint in 4 seconds, she'd do this every weekend. This was the high light of a little 9 year old boy.:love: She sung it Mow as in Cow:)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjywwhnN8O4
 
AHH...LOVELY MEMORIES THERE FROTH...:) a pint in 4 secs???? blimey thats shifing it:D

lyn
 
Our Barley Mow was in Mere Green we had some great nights there. I remember the landlords son played an electric organ we used to sing Beatles songs........It was Barley Mow as in cow for me........maybe because I lived in Four Oaks...........lol lol loll
 
Reading the post it appears that those on the Worcester side of brum say mow as in lawn and those on the Aston Manor side say mow as in cow just shows how dialect can change after a few miles. Dek
 
Thanks everyone for the contribution to the pronunciation of MOW when referring to the Barley Mow.

Sadly I had to attend the funeral of my wife’s father down in Somerset on Monday. We held a get together at a Social Club in sight of Landsdown Road and the Bath Rugby Ground.

My wife of course revelled in the fact that they pronounced it Mow as in “to mow the lawn”. As the only chap from Birmingham I just had to accept the humiliation!

So I am determined to go farther north to get more support!

Thanks to All Peter
 
By chance came across The Free dictionary on the net, and looked up the pronunciation of "mow"...

1. The place in a barn where hay, grain, or other feed is stored.
2. A stack of hay or other feed stored in a barn.

pronunciation (mou)

1. To cut down (grass or grain) with a scythe or a mechanical device.
2. To cut (grass or grain) from: mow the lawn.

pronunciation (mo)

If you go to the site below you can hear the pronunciation!https://www.thefreedictionary.com/mow

Another site here for "Priciples of English Pronunciation"published 1823...

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LuF-9HKGbl4C&pg=PR7&lpg=PR7&dq=barley+mow+pronunciation&source=bl&ots=DuvniNLri_&sig=NoCZd2DQvLrh-eCuhdtKvctPY7o&hl=en&ei=KwR4TfCAGJK5hAfjseXzBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&sqi=2&ved=0CGAQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=barley%20mow%20pronunciation&f=false


The question is should I show the trouble and strife or let sleeping dogs lie?

All the best Peter
 
dek carr said:
Reading the post it appears that those on the Worcester side of brum say mow as in lawn and those on the Aston Manor side say mow as in cow just shows how dialect can change after a few miles. Dek
Click to expand...
But the Barley Mow IN Worcester is pronounced as in cow. I don't see it myself: I always mow the lawn as in cow as well, with my Flymow
 
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