Jump to content

Britain's Second City

Kilgore Trout

By Kilgore Trout
in The Lounge

 Share

Recommended Posts

Kilgore Trout

Kilgore Trout

Posted
Posted

Mr Trout is from Liverpool and there?s a story, very possibly an apocryphal one, which has been doing the rounds for the past couple of years. It goes something like this. A major national study of social attitudes contained the following question: ?Name Britain?s Second City? This question was put to a cross-section of the residents of each of Britain?s largest cities. In Glasgow the majority answer, unsurprisingly, was Glasgow. Its Scottish neighbour Edinburgh believed it to be Edinburgh. Our friends in Manchester likewise cited their own fair city. Birmingham, which in population terms at least is clearly Britain?s second city, echoed the response pattern elsewhere. However, when a cross-section of the residents of Liverpool was asked to name Britain?s Second City the majority answer was??? London.


This characteristically playful response at once highlights the extraordinary paradox of contemporary Liverpool. When I tell this story to people in Liverpool and from around the world it usually elicits one of three responses.


The first is that it?s a joke, a very good joke, and an especially agreeable one if you enjoy deflating the metropolitan pomp of our dear old capital. The second response is usually an admiration and appreciation for a people who have so much assurance, belief and pride in their own identity and value their hometown so much that even London ? arguably the creative and economic capital of western Europe ? sits in the shadow of Liverpool.


The second view is that this is a classic act of self-delusion. Liverpool is no more the premier city of Britain than Captain Bird?s Eye is a senior official in the Royal Navy.


So, people of ED, where do you consider to be Britain's 'second' city?

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/2048-britains-second-city/
Share on other sites
mockney piers

mockney piers

Posted
Posted

I was talking 18th century


See the soley fact-filled wikipedia...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_city_of_the_United_Kingdom


"Other cities, including some in Scotland and Ireland, such as Glasgow and Dublin, and others in England, have also at times been considered to be the second city, either historically or due to their economic importance."


"The title Second city of Empire or Second city of the British Empire has been claimed by a number of cities with respect to their status in the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. These include Dublin, Glasgow (which continues to use the title as a marketing slogan) Liverpool, and (outside the UK) Calcutta and Philadelphia."


Ha ha, tell that last one to an american. Is that you volunteering Maurice? Nice :)

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Advertise Here

  • Latest Discussions

    • Peckham native
      GALA 2026

      By Peckham native · Posted

      This may be somewhat out of date but virtually no environmental benefit & almost entirely grass... really? https://www.gigl.org.uk/sinc/sobi09/ Description Peckham Rye was established as an open space in the late 19th century and includes several valuable habitat features spread across the park. The park is a Grade II Listed landscape, and has recently been restored with assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund. A small community garden within the site is managed by the Friends of Peckham Rye. Peckham Rye Park won a Green Flag Award again for 2022. The site is used by the Southwark Health Walks project as part of a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme. Wildlife This large park has several valuable habitat features. The most important of these is the only remaining above-ground section of the River Peck and the most natural stream in the borough. The stream is heavily shaded by native, unmanaged wet woodland dominated by alder, ash and pedunculated oak with a ground cover of pendulous sedge and bramble. Alder dominated woodland is a rare habitat in Southwark. Although somewhat altered with weirs, other artificial structures and ornamental planting, some sections are still in their natural banks and includes yellow flag, watercress, water figwort and cuckooflower. The largest of three ponds supports marginal vegetation including hemp agrimony. A variety of waterfowl nest on the wooded island, including tufted duck, coot, Canada goose and mallard. Substantial flocks of gulls visit the park in winter and bats are likely to forage over the water. Small blocks of predominantly native woodland, mostly on the boundary between the Park and the Common, are dominated by oak and ash with a well-developed understory, but sparse ground flora. Spring bulbs have been planted in previous years. These and several dense shrubberies support a good bird population and small numbers of pipistrelle bats are present. Infrequently mown grassland is located in one large area and was seeded in 2009. It's composition includes giant fescue, ladies bedstraw, meadowsweet, black knapweed and wild carrot. The rest of the park consists of amenity grassland with some fine mature trees.  
    • first mate
      Fireworks

      By first mate · Posted

      Same here. Incredibly selfish behaviour. Also illegal.
    • kbabes
      Fireworks

      By kbabes · Posted

      I heard them & our two dogs were extremely upset by it..  bad enough during the evenings but at least can have music on to dilute the noise!   Some people have literally zero thoughts for others!! 
    • Azalea
      Fireworks

      By Azalea · Posted

      I have signed that petition.  Someone was letting off loud fireworks at about 3 am this morning. They woke me up.   I don’t know where they were exactly but it sounded like they were in the vicinity of Dog Kennel Hill.    

East Dulwich Forum

Established in 2006, we are an online community discussion forum for people who live, work in and visit SE22.

Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...