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How do you pronounce Shrewsbury?

(80 Posts)
Ceesnan Fri 04-Dec-15 09:28:04

An elderly aunt insists that it is ShrOWEsbury, but my brother, who lives near the town says it is ShrOOsbury. Interested to hear your opinions.

westieyaya Sat 05-Dec-15 13:07:27

Beau champ or Beecham?

gillybob Sat 05-Dec-15 12:28:02

I can't remember ever having the need to actually say "Shewsbury" but if I did ( I'm practicing now) it would be shoes -berry. hmm

MamaCaz Sat 05-Dec-15 11:58:43

Fortunately, I've never needed to say it! If I ever do, I think I will be tempted to slur that part of the word in such a way that the listener wouldn't be sure if I'd said shroo or shrow grin

GranJan60 Sat 05-Dec-15 11:37:42

Was born there and family comes from there. We all say "Shrowsbury" but I have also heard some local people say the alternative.

DotMH1901 Sat 05-Dec-15 10:15:50

I have always said Shrewsbury but my sister in law (who moved to Shropshire in 1958) tells me it should be Shrowsbury!

rosequartz Fri 04-Dec-15 20:19:57

and I have just found my gggg? grandparents' marriage for 1792!

rosequartz Fri 04-Dec-15 20:16:57

Ooh, I just found church records online for Hope Bowdler!!

rosequartz Fri 04-Dec-15 20:15:35

Thank you Hilda

HildaW Fri 04-Dec-15 17:27:33

Hope Bolder was the way I heard it when I lived at Church Stretton

rosequartz Fri 04-Dec-15 16:07:45

Actually, I have heard people call it Shoesbury (no r after the SH) some of whom came from Shropshire or a neighbouring county.
Some of my ancestors came from near Lemster smile
Others from Hope Bowdler (Shropshire) - now is that Beau or Bough?

ninathenana Fri 04-Dec-15 15:41:00

HildaW Leominster always catches me out, I know it's not pronounced as you would expect but often forget Lemster
Oh, and I say Shewsbury

Eloethan Fri 04-Dec-15 15:36:09

ShrOEsbury.

Falconbird Fri 04-Dec-15 14:40:52

My husband's father came from Shropshire and they always said Shrewsbury, as in the little animal.

Here in the W. Country we always say Shrowsbury, not sure why.

My GP at one time was called Doctor Sidebottom, he pronounced it
Sidebotem. smile

Ceesnan Fri 04-Dec-15 13:10:22

Thanks for all the replies - my aunt will be pleased!

Teetime Fri 04-Dec-15 12:53:25

shrowe!

feetlebaum Fri 04-Dec-15 12:50:09

For no good reason this reminds me of the story of the great jazz saxophonist Cannonball Cholmondeley - pronounced 'Canaynonball...'

kittylester Fri 04-Dec-15 12:41:24

We lived in Shrewsbury when we first got married and it was called 'Shrow' by the locals.

Anniebach Fri 04-Dec-15 12:32:14

We lived at one time quite near to Shrewsbury and only heard Shrew not Shrow

moleswife Fri 04-Dec-15 11:39:44

I say ShrOWEsbury; but what do you make of Beaconsfield and Gillingham? I say BEEconsfield when talking about local roads, etc but BECKonsfield when talking about the town in Bucks. Then the most annoying one is Gillingham - this has to be Gill/Jill as in the name, definitely not gill as in a part of a fish - I wish someone would tell South East Trains this!!!

rosesarered Fri 04-Dec-15 11:10:31

It all depends on where you come from in pronouncing lots of words.

rosesarered Fri 04-Dec-15 11:08:47

Shrowsbury.

Luckygirl Fri 04-Dec-15 11:08:11

Shrewsbury - that's how the locals say it.

HildaW Fri 04-Dec-15 11:04:24

Locals......use Shrewsbury...as does the local train company.
Being an incomer from Thames valley I started off calling it Shrowsbury but realised I was in minority. No one frowns....or gives you 'a look' but you just get used to hearing Shrewsbury.

I've also had to get used to Leominster sounding like Lemster and nearby Cleobury Mortimer is Clebry......

rosequartz Fri 04-Dec-15 10:00:38

My family always pronounced it Shrews-bury but when I was at college I had a 'posh' boyfriend from there who told me it was correct to say Shrows-bury.
He told me that it depended which side of the river you came from!

I should have gone back to pronouncing it Shrew when we split up.

12Michael Fri 04-Dec-15 09:55:32

I think the Shroosbury, as a slight black country twang to it, when I have travelled by train I always said Shrowsbury, there again its regional accents pronouncing an vary it.
Mick