Posted by Owen Roberts on April 27, 2007 at 23:12:52 from 195.92.67.74 user OwenRoberts.
In Reply to: Re: Quotation from S & A Series- posted by LaurenceMonkhouse on April 26, 2007 at 18:36:15:
"missus" is definitely Cockney. Still heard occasionally today in markets of the east end of London.
When I read CC, I instantly knew that the Whittles were from the east end and were Thames bargees.
AR from his time in London during his formative years, would have known the east end London accent well. The mode in which the Whittles speak in is pure eastend of London. Words like "chynge" ring very true.
Very often cockneys spoke in rhyming slang to disguise the true meaning of their words to outsiders. The link below may help if you want to know more.