"Born in the sound of the Bow bells"

Jane Bassett used to say she was "born in the sound of the bow bells."

"Born in the sound of the Bow bells" is the traditional definition of a Cockney (the common name for an East Londoner or "Eastender"). Bow bells are the "great bells of Bow", meaning the church bells from the medieval church of St. Mary Le Bow. People born within the sounds of the Bow bells are said to be genuine Cockneys. Bow is an area of London (the East End), and was desperately poor in the 1880s. Jane Bassett's birthplace is Stratford, Essex, which does fall within the East End of London, so there you go! There's a nursery rhyme that mentions the bells (with not a very nice ending!):

ORANGES AND LEMONS

Gay go up, and gay go down
To ring the bells of London Town.

“Bull’s eyes and targets,”
Say the bells of St. Marg’ret’s.

“Brickbats and tiles,”
Say the bells of St. Giles’.

“Pancakes and fritters,”
Say the bells of St. Peter’s.

“Two sticks and an apple,”
Say the bells at Whitechapel.

“Halfpence and farthings,”
Say the bells of St. Martin’s.

“Oranges and lemons,”
Say the bells of St. Clement’s.

“Old Father Baldpate,”
Say the slow bells at Aldgate.

“Pokers and tongs,”
Say the bells of St. John’s.

“Kettles and pans,”
Say the bells of St. Ann’s.

“You owe me ten shillings,”
Say the bells of St. Helen’s.

“When will you pay me?”
Say the bells at Old Bailey.

“When I grow rich,”
Say the bells at Shoreditch.

“Pray, when will that be?”
Say the bells of Stepney.

“I’m sure I don’t know,”
Says the great bell at Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed.
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head.