The Yorkshire Joke (the Sign)


Gromit's trying to get rid of the bomb.

He can't throw it on one side of the house because of the ducks. Then he can't throw it on the other side because of the nuns and the kittens. Then he sees the sign that reads something to the effect of "Yorkshire Border-Keep Out!" and looks relieved that he can throw it there.

I'm an American and I understand that this obviously very British in-joke is considered very funny. Can someone fill in us Americans what this means? I'm curious...

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Actually that gag reminded me of the very similar 'some days you just can't get rid of a bomb' scene from the 1966 Batman film.

The joke you are asking about is only based on playful local rivalry. Wallace and Gromit are supposed to live in the county of Lancashire which shares a border with Yorkshire and are considered their local rivals (in sports like cricket). Also Nick Park was born in Preston (lancashire) but studied at Sheffield Hallam University (Yorkshire) so with this in mind the joke becomes a bit more apparent.

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I work with a couple of ex-Britons (if that is the word for people born and raised in the UK but now American citizens) and I told them about this scene. They both chuckled mildly and basically said what you did about the playful local rivalry.

As far as your first comment about the similarity between the scene with the bomb and the 1966 Batman film, I have read other posts on this board mention the exact same thing.

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[deleted]

The Yorkshire/Lancashire rivalry dates back as far as the 15th century and the Wars of the Roses, which ended with death of Richard III (Duke of York) defeated by Henry Tudor (Henry VII and Duke of Lancaster) at the Battle of Bosworth.
People from Yorkshire are stereotyped as being a bit arrogant and considering Yorkshire to be "God's own county" and superior in every way (look up Geoff Boycott).
Although the rivalry is intense between the two counties they unite in their disdain of southerners and Londoners in particular.
It is also very easy to offend anyone from Lancashire/Yorkshire by misidentifying their origins - to my London ears their accents are almost indistinguishable.

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People from Yorkshire are stereotyped as being a bit arrogant and considering Yorkshire to be "God's own county" and superior in every way


We really aren't arrogant though we are just direct to the point and have a way of joking while looking completely serious..

You right though Yorkshire/Lancashire rivalry dates back at least to war of the roses. Indeed there is still arguments about who won since Yorkshire won but 14 years later it started up again and ended for good when lancastrian Henry Tudor, married Elizabeth of York. Uniting the houses.


London is incredibly unfriendly and I could never live there don't believe me try talking to a unknown person sat next to you on the tube. By that I mean having a conversation. Then come to Yorkshire where having conversations with strangers is normal


here is a good link about yorkshire http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5234444.stm

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Meant no offence to Yorkshire/Lancashire folk - I was merely offering the stereotype. One thing I love about Nick Park is the very parochial English/Lancastrian sensibility...

"Ay up" magazine instead of "Hello" being one of my favourite gags

(Anyone else get annoyed with the American spellchecker!)

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I know and to clarify I didn't intend to call Londoners unfriendly take them out of London and they are as friendly most other people. But the inside London if you talk to a stranger you get looked at like you are from another planet. People seem to think you are either crazy, a nutcase, a criminal or possibly all 3 rather than just making friendly conversation

I just felt the need to explain why we can be wrongly taken for arrogant by the more southern of Brits


I agree about American spell check it is well annoying

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Aye, lads, yer right. refers to the old rivalry between Yorkshire and Lancashire. Still goes on - my wife is from Oldham, and I am from Ilkey - the Heart of the one and only truly God's country, Yorkshire.
We have lived in USA nigh on 30 years & we both have our accents - why would we want to lose them? We are fiercely proud of where we are from.
Well I am. Coz I am from Yorkshire. She's from bloody Lancashire, but after 30 years, I thought she would have picked up on my Yorkshire accent and tried to improve her speech. But she still refers to that great black american creature we want to see in the wild (but from a suitable distance)as a "burr". And those double decker passenger things as a "buzzz"

So to wind her up when we get going on the Yorks/Lancs thing all I have to say is...

Now, then, whooda thort 30 year ago we'd both be drinking Budweiser the Crap - or -leis?
(See Monty Python - 4 Yorkshiremen sketch)
Rock on Yorkskshire.

Shep the ex Sheep Shagger.
ex becoz they are hard to find, in Georgia, USA
and also I am too bloody old to catch one.

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That was hysterical.

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This then would be similar to the rivalry between New York and New Jersey in the States.

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