Mr Red, now you mention it, I did go through a confused phase re Stroud/Strood when my sister moved to Eastcombe and my parents followed as far as Cirencester. It was as if my brain could only hold one pronounciation at a time, and was primarily working only on consonants. The usual error was to call Strood, which I seldom referred to, though it was quite close, by the Gloucestershire pronounciation. Odd.

Anyone got the pronounciation of Hurstmonceaux? I usually say Hurstmonsue (though the H is not much aspirated, and attempting to be dropped, and the o is more of a schwa). My mother was put out by someone who insisted the correct local version was 'urstmunzez, which she had never heard anyone say.

Penny