Town's forgotten dialect preserved by production

Sadie Hylott appeared in two videos featuring words recorded by Ann Baker

The work of a historian who collected thousands of words of a now mostly forgotten dialect has been immortalised on the small screen.

Students from The University of Northampton created short videos of the work of Ann Baker, a philologist who lived in the town from 1786 to 1861.

Her Glossary of Northamptonshire Words and Phrases includes the phrases "creep up your sleeve" (endeavouring to obtain a favour by coaxing) and "crooked stockings" (a phrase applied to an inebriated man unable to walk straight).

More performances on the dialect are due to be presented to mark her birthday on 16 June.

Sadie and Benjamin said they were excited to be part of the project, having been born and bred in Northampton

The performance, by two Northampton born and bred students, Sadie Hylott and Benjamin Bayes, was created entirely using the historical – and mostly forgotten – dialect of Northampton, the university said.

It was written by associate lecturer Dan McGarry, inspired by the ongoing work by local historian Kayley Porter, who has researched Baker's life.

The university said: "Ann Baker spent 11 years meticulously restoring the town's St Peters Church, as well as dedicating her life to collecting thousands of dialect words of Northampton town."

Her glossary also included "long-forgotten phrases" like, "bag of moonshine" (an illusory deception) and "cross wamping" (contradicting, wrangling, seeking to provoke a quarrel).

The two second-year students said they felt a personal connection to the work.

"It was great to perform a scene written about our town, by one of our academics who is also local and equally as enthusiastic to shout about our town's heritage and history," they said.

Gemma Boaden, senior lecturer in acting and drama and the project lead, said: "It's been wonderful to see our students connect Ann's lineage with the Northamptonian dialect and being able to perform in the church itself, a space so lovingly restored by Ann Baker in the 1800s.

"It was really exciting to connect with the historical language of my town.

"I think there are some fantastic terms in there that we should bring back into common parlance. 'Crooked stockings' I can see being used by many!"