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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

Talk to me about Dorset, please

41 replies

SuperBunny · 11/04/2009 19:56

I am toying with the idea of moving - possibly Blandford Forum/ Shaftesbury area but am flexible. I don't know anyone there other than my sister near Bournemouth and my mum in a village near Blandford Forum. I do not want (nor can I afford) to live where they do but would like to be closer than I am now.

Need decent schools, possibility of employment for me (teacher although any work would do) and somewhere pretty but not too cut off - I need to be able to meet people and make friends.

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SuperBunny · 11/04/2009 23:31

Anyone?

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twinsetandpearls · 12/04/2009 00:03

I live in Blandford Forum. We like it here property is cheap for the area and there is lots of walking, DD is at a good primary but the secondary in my opinion is not very good. But I suspect that it is just not what I want for dd, other mumsnetters have their children in the secondary and like it. I do like the fact that where we are in Blandford we have walks literally out the back of our house but shops on our doorstep. There is also a nice community here. There is n underbelly to Blandford that we do not like which is another reason we are moving. We have seen a property we would love in Shillingstone but again I am not sure about Sturminster High.

I teach and there are lots of very nice schools to work in. I teach in a fab school going towards poole that has great kids, lovely building and nice staff. It is a school that begins with L and if you can get your kids in there in my opinion you are doing well, it is where I hope dd will go.

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twinsetandpearls · 12/04/2009 00:05

Prices in Blandford have come right down as they have across Dorset generally, we were worried that we would not be able to buy but we can do now and get somewhere quite nice.

Lovely mumsnetters down here as well.

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SuperBunny · 12/04/2009 00:11

Thanks Twinset.

Blandford Forum does seem cheaper than much of the surrounding area but it looks lovely. I have somewhere I can stay initially and then will see what is happening with house prices. The problem with having a 3 bed semi in a northern milling town is that it doesn't buy you much in a pretty Dorset village.

Underbelly sounds a bit worrying...

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twinsetandpearls · 12/04/2009 00:30

No we are selling a 3 bedroom semi in Blackpool and it is not buying us much up here. Luckily we got our mortgage of a single wage so it will just mean a hike in mortgage for us.

Blandford is a squaddie town and can get a bit wild on a Saturday night. There is a drugs problem and there is a very clear division between the haves and have nots. However I dont go into Blandford of an evening at the weekend so it does not bother me. I do like it here and if I was happier with the secondary I would stay.

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SuperBunny · 12/04/2009 00:45

That's good to know, twinset. I used to live near a garrison and once a month the soldiers would have a night out in my town - you'd know it was happening because the high street would be full of police wagons waiting for the things to kick off.

Anyway, I'll be a single parent with no friends or family around so I will not be in town on a Saturday night so I don't think I need to worry too much

Thanks for your help.

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twinsetandpearls · 12/04/2009 00:58

I have not noticed lots of police wagons althougb everynow and again there is a heavier police presence in town. THere was a phase of shop windows being put through as well.

I do really like it though, although we get stared at a lot for our northern accents. I adore that view as you drive into Blandford and look over the Stour and Bryanston Woods. We walk in Bryanston every day.

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SuperBunny · 12/04/2009 01:02

It does sound lovely.

I'll be ok as I have a southern accent. Perhaps a little Americanised . Ds, on the other hand sounds sooo American I am sure he will be stared at wherever he goes be it Yorkshire or the West Country.

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Pesha · 12/04/2009 01:09

Twinset - my mum teaches in a school in dorset that begins with L! Its a private girl's school, is yours?!

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twinsetandpearls · 12/04/2009 10:52

No I teach in a state school

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SuperBunny · 12/04/2009 16:06

Thanks for all your help, Twinset.

Does anyone know about Shaftesbury?

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brimfull · 12/04/2009 16:07

I live in Ringwood,on border with dorset.
Don't know how it compares to prices in blandford though.

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SuperBunny · 12/04/2009 16:35

ggirl - is Ringwood nice? I have only ever driven past it.

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FiveGoMadInDorset · 12/04/2009 17:06

I live in Lulworth so know that side of it, Wareham and towards Dorchester. Just for your info they are currently going to restructure the trhee tier system in Purbeck to a 2 tier one (not official but 99% sure ist is going to happen) so there may be some opportunity there.

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SuperBunny · 12/04/2009 17:36

Ooo, that's good to know. Thanks 5gomad... Dorchester might be ok

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Marne · 12/04/2009 17:39

I am near sherborne (15 miles from blandford), to be honest i don't like Blandford (sorry twinset ), houses are cheep there because not many people want to live there. I like Shaftesbury and we have looked into moving there as its close to dh's work, some of little villages on the out skirts are lovely.

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Marne · 12/04/2009 17:40

Also there are a lot of nice schools in Sherborne .

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twinsetandpearls · 12/04/2009 17:47

Thanks marne I see that Blandford is not for everyone but we we do love it here. We are only leaving because of schools.

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SuperBunny · 12/04/2009 17:48

I saw some nice houses in Sherborne when I was looking at property porn. Thanks.

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twinsetandpearls · 12/04/2009 17:51

Do any of you know anything about Sexey's school?

DD ws supposed to be starting at a girls boarding school this Sept ( not to board but wanted to in the future) and although she loves it here she does keep asking if we have the money can she go to a boarding school! (I am trying not to take it personally) I am not convinced but dp is keen to at least look.

I know there are 2 state boarding schools nearby and sexey is supposed to be the better one.

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FiveGoMadInDorset · 12/04/2009 17:52

Hi TP - my sister went there many years ago and some freinds looked at it for their daughter but didn't manage to get in and we are seriously looking at it for DD.

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twinsetandpearls · 12/04/2009 17:56

To board 5 gomad? That is interesting as I bet we are looking at similar secondary schools for the future.

We looked at a house we really like in Shillingstone but then our offer fell through so it is a waiting game again. I thought Sturminster High might be OK but have had mixed feedback and their results are not great. We have also looked out your way but I have been warned at work about the traffic coming in in the morning.

They take out of catchment dont they for boarders.

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brimfull · 12/04/2009 18:07

yes ringwood is nice
nice community feel to it,quite expensive propertywise but am sure they have gone down a bit lately

big waitrose and sainsburys ,quite a few nice shops

ofsted outsanding schools if that means anything,but we are pleased with them,have one in the infants and one in the senior school

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FiveGoMadInDorset · 12/04/2009 18:07

Yes, they do and yes I guess we are. Is that traffic going in to LM? I used to leave just before 8 and was always in by 8.25 so wasn't too bad and if you go Bere Regis way then you don't have to go through Sandford.

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twinsetandpearls · 12/04/2009 18:14

Yes to LM. Right that is handy to know ,we also have seen a few things in Bere Regis.

Ringwood has come down in price, most places have.

Dd is set on going to Blandford High and I feel very guilty at the fact I will be dragging her away from friends again. Having said that listening to parents quite a few seem keen not to go to Blandford and a few in her class are talking about going to Clayesmore and Bryanston. When they find out I teach at LM they suddenly want to be my friend.

Dont know if you have seen it advertised 5gomad but we are having our grandopening complete with cucumber sandwiches, cream teas and fireworks.