Jericho is number 19

The Times newspaper of March 14 listed the the 30 most fashionable locations to live in the UK — "from the hippest neighbourhoods and chicest villages to the most exciting, urban up-and-coming areas". Jericho was rated number 19. Why did the Times think Jericho was so special? It pointed out that Jericho in the past was an industrial area that could be reached by the Oxford Canal. It described the houses as Victorian workers’ cottages and 19th-century terrace houses. A more salacious note it saidt that in the 1950s this was was the city's red-light district. It did not, however, reveal that we have recently had a brothel closed down in Cranham Street. Apparently we are now "posh" but not stuffy village, with the Phoenix as our arthouse cinema and range of pubs that serve food. They mentioned the Rickey Press, which seems a bit unfair on the Old Bookbinders. The Times had fairly narrow view of who lives here, mentioning only "rich students, writers and academics". For celebrity spotting, you might see Thom Yorke of Radiohead. As for house prices, a two-bedroom terrace house costs up to £500,000, while if you fancy something larger, say a five-bedroom family home, you might have to offer £1.75 million. Top of the list was Bruton in Somerset. Jericho came between Cartmel in Cumbria, at 18 and Malone Road in Belfast at 20.