The Bell Enders stood up and fought with pride.
An English street called Bell End will be keeping its name after a group of embarrassed locals attempted to have it changed.
Situated in Sandwell, West Midlands, the street of Bell End first gained attention back in January 2018, when a petition was posted to Change.org. Arguing that the name Bell End was “rude” and “offensive”, it went on to state that the children of Bell End were being treated as a “laughing stock” and had experienced bullying on social media.
“Further to this, it’s one of the rudest road names in England! Feel free to Google and the results will confirm this.”
Actually, a quick Google search will confirm that several UK newspapers have crowned Bell End with this title. However, it could be argued nobody is going to pass out Gropecunt Lane, London anytime soon.
Suggesting that the name be changed to ‘Bells Road’, the petition has only managed to receive over 180 signatories in the space of three months.
On the other hand, local historian Linda George spoke out in favour of protecting the name with her own petition, ‘Leave the Historic Name of Bell End Alone’, which has almost received 5,000 signatures so far.
“Bell End is an historic name in Rowley Regis,” she wrote, and of course, the Internet agreed, because that is exactly why they were backing Bell End.
“My Great Uncle’s family lived and kept a shop there, long after his death in WW1,” she went on to say.
Calling the name change “pointless” and “offensive” in its own right, George went on to observe: “If children are being bullied because of the name of their road, the problem is the bullying children, who need educating.
“Changing a road name will not stop their behaviour.”
In a statement to the BBC, Sandwell Council said: “In order for anything to happen, the council would have to receive a copy of a petition, but that hasn’t happened, so there will be no change.”
And so, the internet sighed with relief as the history of Rowley Regis was not rewritten…
We know what you’re thinking. Yes, this was about the preservation of local history, and not because bell-end is another way of saying penis.
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