UK: rail underpass regains original risqué name

[John Ashworth]

Tickle Cock Bridge returned to original name after row

A Victorian landmark has been recognised by its traditional risqué name after locals were offended by a council’s politically correct alternative.

By Paul Stokes
Daily Telegraph
Published: 11:25AM GMT 18 Feb 2010

The railway underpass has been known as Tickle Cock bridge to generations of courting couples in Castleford, West Yorkshire.

But it proved a source of embarrassment for civic leaders before a regeneration scheme which was filmed as part of a Channel 4 television series.

In an attempt to spare blushes, a council official suggested it was called Tittle Cott bridge and a plaque bearing the sanitised name was erected.

Castleford Area Voice for the Elderly, an over 50s group in the town, took exception to the re-writing of history and went into battle.

It has now won its fight with Wakefield district council installing a replacement plaque bearing the words Tickle Cock.

Margaret Shillito, the group’s chairman, said: “The old plaque was wrong, it had the wrong name on and we were offended by it.

“It was important to keep the name rather than having a new one just because someone decided it sounded a bit better.

“Tickle Cock is how the bridge has been known for generations. We love the name, it has got character and history. We don't want a name there for posterity that is wrong.”

The town centre underpass’s name is thought to date back to the late 19th or early 20th century and refer to a “monkey run” where boys and girls do their courting.

Feelings over the re-naming ran so high that a public meeting was organised and a large majority came out in favour of reverting to the original name.

Brian Lewis, a local author, said: “I feel we should never alter names and Tickle Cock has a very clear message behind it.

“I was horrified at another example of the nanny state telling us something we don’t want to do.”

Denise Jeffery, a local councillor, unveiled the replacement plaque to the delight of the campaigners.

She said: “Some people do call it Tickle Cock and some don't but residents have pressured us to put this plaque back top how they felt it should be and we've done that.

“It's not a big deal. I think some people thought Tittle Cott sounded better, a council officer at the time heard that name and wrote it up as such.”