I found this about the Middlesbrough accent......

[Trug]

Yes I know there is a thread about Teesside accents on TV but this was a letter in the Guardian today so I copied it here. I thought it might be of interest.
By the way, I say Middlesbru.

• Val Hart (Letters, 16 April) must surely acknowledge that for the actual pronunciation of the name “Middlesbrough”, class is a guide to quite a large extent. When I was a near-neighbour of the town, many years ago, it went like this – upper class: “Middlesborrow”; middle class: “Middlesborroh”; working class: “Middlesberreh”.
Jonathan Hauxwell
Crosshills, North Yorkshire

 

[sambaDTR]

I must be upper upper class as i say Middlesbr-owe (like Brian Clough). There is no o after the b.

 

[goalscrounger]

I don't think I've heard anyone say any of those three versions regularly (the middle class one seems the closest?)

 

[Bernies_quiff]

Middlesbruh

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

Middlesbruh too.

 

[red_harrington]

I say Mingleberg.

 

[TeaCider]

Never heard anything but Middlesbruh, except from southerners and in the "finest team in football" chant

 

[NYboro]

Never heard anything but Middlesbruh, except from southerners and in the "finest team in football" chant

You should hear Americans, even when you tell them it's Middlesbruh.

 

[tonybiriyani]

You should hear Americans, even when you tell them it's Middlesbruh.

'Middlesborrow'

 

[Borobuddah]

Middlesbruh

 

[Fluffycarpet]

Has class got anything to do with it? I'd suggest it's just what area you live.

 

[newusername]

I think the h is too strong in 'Middlesbruh', to me it is more like 'Middlesbru' or 'Middlesbro'.

 

[BoroinBuxton]

I've always pronounced it 'Middlesbrer' and also 'The Burra' I did a quick test on this at home. Missus is from Carlisle and both my lads have spent most of their lives in Buxton and they agree with what I sound like.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

You should hear Americans, even when you tell them it's Middlesbruh.

My mate (From DC but lived in SF for 15 years) recently moved to our London office, and so I spend a lot of time with him (or did before the current situation). He must hate me, as I constantly correct his pronunciation of place names.

He'll also text me at random times to ask "Have you been to <insert name of tiny hamlet somewhere in Hampshire>" when he's watching the TV. He thinks the UK is that small that I've visited every town and village in the country.

 

[SmallTown]

I'm also Middlesbruh. I quite like people who say Middlesbro but I haven't heard it pronounced like the OP

 

[ticker_tape]

Middlesbrer, but if talking to the slow hearing southeners- its Middlesbro.

Its not a Middlesbrough accent like, its a Teesside/South Durham one with a bit of Liverpool Irish chucked in.
Remember Stockton is over 700 years old, Middlesbrough as a town is about 160 years old, its a way different accent to Woolieback East Cleveland and the Durham village pit yak.

 

[red_harrington]

Do you say Boro with the 'Bo' as in 'Bovril' or 'Bus'

Cockneys and southerners use the latter

 

[tonybiriyani]

Do you say Boro with the 'Bo' as in 'Bovril' or 'Bus'

Cockneys and southerners use the latter

I use the latter, like everyone else from Middlesbrough.

I think we've had this argument a few times

 

[SmallTown]

I use the latter too

 

[VESPA]

Burra,my cockney cousins say Barra.