Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Trad prices ..versus owners dreams..

For those younger readers, and to be honest I hadn't heard it for decades :-
"Living over the brush" is an idiomatic expression used in Northern England to describe cohabiting without being married1. The phrase originated in the 19th century during the tunnel building days. It was used to describe an unmarried couple who lived together, and was often used to refer to camp followers from the towns, who were usually prostitutes. The phrase "living over the brush" originates from a form of marriage when a couple held hands and jumped over a besom to signal their commitment to each other, because they couldn't have a church marriage

A besom is a broom made of twigs tied round a stick

I've never heard term old lady used, but have heard of old woman used in not always a complimentary light.

John, whilst I knew the true reasons for it being called over the brush as you state, I am afraid that it was common parlance in
Lancashire & Yorkshire + no doubt other areas in the 50s to my knowledge. It was often used as a derogatory saying. I heard it many a time .
I have jokingly used it with my kids, who regularly have to ask the meaning of many of my sayings.
Does anyone has any recording of, or direct me to, old Lancashire dialect. I remember a man from the Kirkham
area coming to our house and I simply found it virtually impossible to understand. I would love to hear it again but fear it is long lost. Loved driving all my Morgan’s in the Trough of Bowland, lakes and dales. Truly beautiful and many southerners know little of the beauty of the area.

On Morgans, there is a fairly new Plus 6 parked regularly outside a local pub/restaurant . I keep thinking I will pop in and have a chat with him about his car and what he thinks about it. Each time I see it I just cannot find a parking space. I intend to try harder .

In fairness I haven't heard it since moving to Lancashire, my Midlands based paternal Grandmother who died in 1973 was the last person I remember who used it, and usually in a derogatory way.

There was a BBC series of programmes documenting Liverpool life in the 1950's aired a few years ago I can't remember the name of the series. What was interesting when they interviewed people living in the back streets of Liverpool, most spoke with a soft Lancashire accent very much akin to the valleys. (it was part of Lancashire then) not as I was expected with a harder scouse accent. That may prove interesting to seek out

Literally just spoken to my panel and car sprayer as I’m doing something for him after a year or so. He is a top notch body repairer and painter of various old, sporty ,classic cars. Have seen lots of stuff in his place . He might do my car but I never like to mix business with ‘pleasure’ . He might even be tempted to buy the car as he has mentioned it.
That said I asked him about current projects, an old defender (tricky due to rivets!?) ,, some exotic Fiat, Maserati. and without a prompt he said that prices had dropped 25% on classic cars ( or certainly his clients have told him) . He said, trouble is our prices and labour continue to rise - a perfect storm in the market. Perhaps he was ‘priming’ me for a low offer !!!?

I think he is only reflecting what others are seeing in the market place. and yes the economics may not be working in peoples favour in relation to the value of their classic.

Incredibly, somehow, that statement is probably not far off being correct....... 🤯
The whole classic and collector car world is in the pretty much the same boat as well though, except for some of the mega high end stuff, but even that is probably not what it was...

***** Craig's car was exceptional*******
Most Morgans when they've left Pickersleigh Rd quickly become infinitely better with a bit of owner fettling.
Craig's car was at a different level, extremely well fettled......a keeper......😆
Who ever the new owner is, he will forever be driving 'Craig's car'.....😁

Oh dear this forum keeps reminding how nice my car was, makes me want another 4/4

Me too.

A 4/4 is the only Morgan anyone needs..........
Everything else is just hype, marketing and automotive willy waving.......................
IMHO😆😆

Having had 3 4/4's and currently driving a Plus 4, I would stretch the definitive Morgan to include a Plus 4, everything else is as you say automotive willy waving/