Wife's late Grandad used to say one of two sayings as himself and Nan left after a visit ( we all lived in Donny at the time.) He was originally from Wombwell and he would say in his unforgettable Barnsley accent " Rey't, we'll be off. Si thi under t' culdits at Wath" or " Si this at top o' Dodworth bottoms". It's only when we moved to West Yorkshire and became familiar with travelling round places in Barnsley it registered where he meant. Apparently, there's a statue of Matthew Howe in the Cemetery overlooking town . When our American family came over once, they were blocking access to the kitchen and Grandad said " eh up, ger artat rooad. Tha' stood theer like Matty Howe." They started laughing and told him that's what their Mum who was Wombwell born and bred, used to say to them. Next day, Grandad made a point of taking them to the cemetery to see the legendary Matty Howe. They used to come for a two week holiday and I've honestly never known anyone like them booze and smoke so much in my life. On the second day of their holiday I used to take them to the Coop Emporium in Doncaster and they would buy wine and spirits and ten dozen bottles of Bud and two thousand Marlborough fags. In laws had to redecorate their lounge when they went back to the States.
Never heard it pronounced like that. Similar saying mentioned here http://dictionary.sensagent.com/Higham, South Yorkshire/en-en/
When I played a juniors football tournament in Blackpool for Wombwell, during the coin toss the ref called us “Wombles”. Quite an odd pronunciation. I’ve heard people at work called it wooom-well too. Surely it’s wum-well? I live in Hoyland, I don’t think anyone could ever pronounce that wrong?
I thought it came from being called high land? Being that it is one of the highest points in the area? (Hoyland thst is)
Once had a car pull up at the side of me as I walked down Huddersfield rd in town. A quite posh fella said to me, “excuse me, do you know the way to Barrow green?” Me trying to be helpful asked if that was a street name..., he showed me the slip of paper which read Barugh Green. I laughed and said, if you have to ask again, it’s called Bart Green, and you’re going the right way.
