Will, with all due respect I don't see why being born in Pimlico would make your accent much different to someone being born in Stepney
for instance at the time of Elen's birth. And what is a true cockney? I am familiar of course with the definition of being born within the sound of Bow Bells but what people generally seem to recognise as a cockney accent comes from a much wider area than that. In my opinion it's not a Cockney accent but a working class London accent.

Guest SteveG, I am interested to know where you managed to hear examples of early 19th century theatrical cockney as I would like to hear them myself. And believe it or not there were costermongers operating south of the river too. Did they speak differently?

Slightly moving off thread I watched the television news last evening and saw the almost completed pile od shite that has been erected on the Olympic Park. It looks like a big ugly helter skelter and is yet another blot on the east London landscape in the name of art. Some woman involved in the project seemed to think it would rival the London Eye as there is a fantastic view from the top. The thought went through my mind that no longer would Gus Elen need a ladder and some glasses to see to 'Ackney Marshes' he could just nip up to the restaurant at the top and take butchers down below while settling down to his Jim Skinner.

Hoot