"Born within the sound of Bow Bells" is one of London's best-known phrases. It turns up in songs, quizzes and pub arguments. But what does it actually mean, and how much of it is tradition rather than record? Here are five short answers, based on a reference account of the phrase.
1. Where are the bells?
The bells belong to the church of St Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside, in the City of London. The church name is often shortened to "Bow Church", which is why it is sometimes confused with the district of Bow in east London. The phrase refers to the City church and its bells, not to the east London area.
2. What is the traditional definition of a Cockney?
Being born within earshot of the bells is described as the traditional definition of a Cockney. It is a tidy definition, and a charming one, but it was always a matter of hearing distance rather than a legal or official boundary. On a quiet day, a bell can carry a long way; on a busy one, not so far. The sound itself has never been a very exact measure.
3. Does anyone still use it strictly?
Mostly not. The reference source notes that today anyone with a London accent is likely to be called a Cockney, and that for some people the term stretches to anyone from the South East of England. The "sound of the bells" has also become a shorthand for being from within the old city boundary. In everyday speech, the phrase is more a badge of belonging than a test.
4. How old is the saying?
The same source identifies Samuel Rowlands's The letting of humours blood in the head-vaine, published in 1600, as the first citation it finds linking the bells and Cockneys: "I scorne ... To let a Bowe-bell Cockney put me downe." It is careful to describe this as the first citation it identifies, which means earlier uses may exist but have not been found. The bells themselves are described as certainly ancient.
5. What about Dick Whittington?
The legend says Dick Whittington was called back to London by the sound of Bow Bells. The reference account presents this as legend. It is a lovely story and part of the City's folklore, but it should be treated as a story rather than a documented event. If you would like to see how the Whittington tale compares with the record, our earlier myth-versus-fact article takes a closer look.
How to enjoy it on a City walk
If you are in the area, find St Mary-le-Bow on Cheapside and take a moment to look up at the church before you walk on. Notice how the surrounding streets are now lined with offices, shops and cafés, and think about how different the soundscape of the City must once have been. Check opening times and any visiting details directly with the church before you plan a visit.
The takeaway
Bow Bells is a lovely example of how a place, a sound and a saying can combine into part of a city's identity. Treat the definition as tradition, enjoy the history, and keep a little curiosity about what the record can and cannot tell us.