Theydon Bois – the town that has no street lights

[editor]

Fascinating article here that has quote piqued my interest in paying the place a visit!

Quite why Theydon Bois is so dark and lacking in street lights seems a bit difficult to pin down definitively, although according to an article published in 2017, when the UK started rolling out a national electricity network as it reached Theydon Bois, the locals rejected the plans to add street lights as the cost came from their local rates.

Over the years, although the cost of street lighting is now funded by wider council taxes, local petitions to add street lights have been lost by the pro-lighting lobby as the majority of locals prefer the uniquely dark patch of the urban landscape.

Theydon Bois – the town with no street lights

Theydon Bois, on the edge of northeast London, is remarkable for something very special -- the near total absence of any street lighting.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

 

[Sue]

I've always wondered how you pronounce 'Theydon Bois'.

Bwah?

Boys?

Anyone know?

 

[Magnus McGinty]

I've always wondered how you pronounce 'Theydon Bois'.

Bwah?

Boys?

Anyone know?

I’ve wondered this also.

Allegedly the boozer close to the station do a cracking Sunday Roast.

 

[stavros]

I've always wondered how you pronounce 'Theydon Bois'.

Bwah?

Boys?

Anyone know?

Everyone in Essex says "Boys", although whether it was that originally I have no idea.

 

[mx wcfc]

Everyone in Essex says "Boys", although whether it was that originally I have no idea.

I got laughed at by an Eastender for saying Bois as in french. It's Boys.

I assume it was Bois originally. Guess it came from Norman French.

 

[ska invita]

hmm i wonder why they dont want street lights?

The top spots for dogging in Essex have been revealed

Here are Essex's most 'recommended' spots for dogging

www.essexlive.news

good to see the local press making itself useful

 

[stavros]

Wikipedia says it can be pronounced "Boys" or "Boyce".

 

[maomao]

IME people tend to just say Theydon (though they pronounce the second bit 'boys' when they do say it).

 

[ska invita]

Wikipedia says it can be pronounced "Boys" or "Boyce".

 

[Sue]

I got laughed at by an Eastender for saying Bois as in french.

That's how I would've said it too.

 

[AverageJoe]

According to Google, its pronounced...

"They Done Boys".

Which is nice.

 

[klang]

Years ago when i googled how to pronounce it, it lead me to urban. I signed up straight away.

 

[pseudonarcissus]

Fascinating article here that has quote piqued my interest in paying the place a visit!

Theydon Bois – the town with no street lights

Theydon Bois, on the edge of northeast London, is remarkable for something very special -- the near total absence of any street lighting.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

it's quite nice top get off one stop early on the central line and walk through Epping Forrest...you walk over one of those tunnel bits on the M25. There is a nice pub just before downtown Theydon Boys

correction....get off at Theydon and walk to Epping

 

[stavros]

On a semi-local note, I remember not knowing how to pronounce Witham, and I'm still not 100% about Cheshunt.

 

[Sue]

On a semi-local note, I remember not knowing how to pronounce Witham, and I'm still not 100% about Cheshunt.

They pronounce it 'ches-unt' in the train announcements so that's what I go with.

 

[wemakeyousoundb]

On a semi-local note, I remember not knowing how to pronounce Witham, and I'm still not 100% about Cheshunt.

I say with-ham as it winds up my essex friend

 

[stavros]

The best place name in Essex is definitely Fingringhoe.

 

[pogofish]

I've always wondered how you pronounce 'Theydon Bois'.

Bwah?

Boys?

Anyone know?

We had a thread on just this once. Its Boys

 

[JimW]

Lace up boots and corduroys.

 

[skyscraper101]

I've always wondered how you pronounce 'Theydon Bois'.

Bwah?

Boys?

Anyone know?

When they say it on the London news its like this: Thee-dun Bow-is

 

[Artaxerxes]

I moved out of rented place there last month.

It’s a shit hole, lovely forest, fuck all else. More than a bit UKIP, it’s a faux-village that pretends it’s quaint and old worldly

 

[Magnus McGinty]

I moved out of rented place there last month.

It’s a shit hole, lovely forest, fuck all else. More than a bit UKIP, it’s a faux-village that pretends it’s quaint and old worldly

I thought it was considered posh?

 

[Artaxerxes]

I thought it was considered posh?

Posh in a very specific way yes.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Posh in a very specific way yes.

Pricey shithole though.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Pricey shithole though.

View attachment 360902

Yes, absolute fucking fortune.

 

[Griff]

When we lived in Epping we used to stop off at the Indian restaurant by the station.

That was nice.

 

[stavros]

I thought it was considered posh?

Not sure about posh (see above), but definitely expensive. It's got the second station from the end of the Central Line, so almost guaranteed a seat into Stratford or Liverpool Street.

 

[maomao]

On a semi-local note, I remember not knowing how to pronounce Witham, and I'm still not 100% about Cheshunt.

wiʔm and cheznʔ

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Not sure about posh (see above), but definitely expensive. It's got the second station from the end of the Central Line, so almost guaranteed a seat into Stratford or Liverpool Street.

Posh to me means expensive. As in most people can't afford it.

 

[ouirdeaux]

This has inspired me to visit the place at the next opportunity. I've never been there. I've never considered going there. I feel suddenly embarrassed about this.

From what's been said, someone should organise an Urban meet there; the internet would suggest it has three pubs. They'll never know what hit them.