For a couple of months, I worked in South Elmsall (between Barnsley and Pontefract.)
Aside from being the birthplace of playwright John Godber, this buzzing metropolis's main claim to fame is that it's among the top 3% of deprived areas not just in Britain, but in all of Europe. It's a small, gnarled town made entirely of blood-red bricks that's been crippled not just by the total failure of its economic lifeblood (the mining industry) but the three recessions that followed.

But in spite of all this, it didn't seem truly, soul-sapping awful in the way so many bland commuter towns do - although it was undeniably ugly, in a state of decay and stuck round about 1970, it was far from irredeemable. There was still a strong sense of community and a healthy sense of humour there, even though most folk are completely and utterly alienated by our shallow, aspirational society and the images of opulence pumped through our radios, television sets and newspapers 24/7/365. It wasn't quite "friendly", but it was more as if outsiders were judged on their own merits - if you were civil and friendly, you'd get a similar response; and if you acted like a twat, you'd get treated like a twat. And if you want to hear old people swearing, go into a South Elmsall pub and mention Margaret Thatcher. It was an interesting experience - however, I wouldn't want to live there.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Mon 2 Nov 2009, 21:38, Reply)