Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Heswall and "Yowlers"

It is now part of a very old dialect that my grandparents may have known, but Heswall residents were known as "Yowlers".

I had never heard the term in my lifetime (b. 1949) until I got to know one of the last full-time Hoylake fishermen in the 1970s and he always talked about "Yowler City" meaning Heswall. But I never heard that again until some recent searching.

As confirmed by Wirral historian and writer Greg Dawson, Neston people called those in Heswall "Yowlers" and they called Neston people "Yusers" as in the greeting "A'reet Yuse?"
And two articles in Neston Past "Reminiscences of a Train Boy" describing the Hooton line journey to school at Calday Grange GS also said that Heswall was called "Yowler".

But no-one has so far explained why that epithet? My guess is like the Black Country people are called "Yam-Yams" and the Brummies "Yow-Yows" (both for "you are") maybe it was an old dialect for "you will".

Any ideas or recollections welcomed!

I was thinking about this the other day. I remember being shown an old BBC News Documentary on it (or maybe ITV). I can't find it anywhere online, but I do remember seeing on my mums facebook so its more than likely on CH64 community or the like.

Sorry its not on topic, its just bugging me that I can't find that video report anywhere! My grandad was Parkgate born and bred and so is his descendants and he could have probably explained it if he was still around.

My best guess is that its come from miners and fishermen from the NW and those names were used to describe (or insult) someone from Heswall and Neston, with Heswall being more of an insult. Either way, it must be to do with labourers.

If you do some more digging online you can find some Wirral news articles explaining it a bit more in depth. Best of luck with your search!