Moving to Frome from Surrey

[Ribenahead]

I'm making a big leap into the (almost) unknown by moving to Frome from Reigate in Surrey (finding Surrey too conservative) would love to know if anyone else has made a big move like this? I have a 5.5yr and a nearly 2 year old and would love to meet others new to the area. From what I gather (after visiting and reading) Frome is a pretty arty/eco/alternative place to be???? Hope I'm not wrong! Any local villages we should consider living in? Thanks!!

[idontknowmyusernameanymore]

No opportunities for children in Frome, no good school clubs, no jobs. Don't do it. Move to Rode or Beckington (good schools) or move nearer to bath and send children to Bath schools. Much more opportunity in the city and brilliant schools. You'll regret your children growing up there, I did and got out, but it's a dead end town. Sorry to burst your bubble. Prepared to be flamed.

[pitball]

I can only agree with the above poster, I spent 11 yrs living in and around frome and its gone downhill over the last 15. Don't do it you will regret it, you will get a lot more for your money housewife this end of the country so invest it into property somewhere nicer than frome!!

If you want somewhere arty/Eco/alternative your better off in Glastonbury or surrounding villages- butleigh, burtle, shapwick, wedmore are really nice.

Bath is great, lots to do, plenty of culture, great park-Victoria park huge and lots for both young and old with botanical gardens opposite.

If you want any more help feel free to pm me 🙂

[pitball]

*housewise not housewife lol

[imgoingmad]

Hi,

I disagree, I love living in Frome!
I don't feel it's a dead end town at all. There's a great community feel and a lot going on. Close to the coast and counrtyside as well as the cities of Bath and Bristol.

There's a great choice of things for young children in and around the area. Sports, dance, music, theatre, etc. There's a great choice for all ages.
There's a festival each summer with music and art events, many free.There's an artisan market each first Sunday of the month when the town closes are there is food, crafts, music, etc. I could go on!

Primary schools here are good (there are great village schools too) but you may want to consider looking at schools out of Frome when your children are teens as Frome College is the only choice. It's had a rough few years but maybe when yours are older things may have improved.
Some parents move their children to Writhlington in Radstock or the catholic school in Trowbridge, Saint Augustines. There are private schools too.
Houses are a mixed bag but still very affordable.
Transport links to other towns and cities aren't great but do exist and trains to London are on the increase.

Good pubs and restaurants too and farm shops close by.

We moved here from Lancashire 20+ years ago when we were in our 20's and didn't have children at the time. We've seen it flourish from being a ghost town to one of the best places to live in Britain.

Move here but have a good look around first before you buy a house.

Good luck :-)

[Ribenahead]

Hmm interesting. I'm an artist and when I visited I really liked the vibe and opportunities for artists. Our long term plan is to end up in a Cornish fishing village/town in 10 years or so :-) but currently don't want to be too far from London (grandparents are there) and we will get a hell of a lot more for our money than in Surrey! I don't fit in here as I don't dress up to go to the playground, wear much make up and my son has long hair (we are quite hippy) I'm also excited there's a co-housing group as ultimately that's my dream! We will be renting so can move out to a village when we buy and have reserved a school place for our son at St. Johns. Is it not really that alternative? I'm a big kid at heart and tired of being surrounded by conservative posh grown ups!

[Marybeatonseton]

You'll be looking at the Somerset/Wilts border then, very pretty.
Look online at Bradford-on-Avon, there's a village called Holt which or Warminster (getting on for Longleat). Trowbridge has some practical shops but I don't know about an arty scene.
Yes the villages of Beckington and Rode have nice communities. Nearer to Bath there's Freshford and Limpley Stoke villages that are side by side.
I think that's a bit harsh about Frome, one might equally dismiss Glastonbury as, "That used to be a quaint dreamy hippy place now losing its banks and facilities and seriously infested with quite a nasty druggy element - AVOID".

PS Nearly forgot Bruton, it's the wild card, big arty/crafty stuff going on, but compared to the rest, stuck in the iddle of nowhere.

[imgoingmad]

Remember there's a Steiner school here in Frome now.
There's a real much if people here, many are quite alternative and most people get on despite their differences.

[Marybeatonseton]

Sorry for crap editing - meant to say was in Holt at the weekend, (not to be confused with the Holt in Norfolk) it has a NT property but met some locals who said there's quite a thriving arts community, around the Bradford-on-Avon district.

[imgoingmad]

That should have read "mix of people"

[Ribenahead]

hehe thanks! We had lunch on a boat in Bradford-on-Avon and thought it was lovely (food wasn't the best but surroundings made up for it) We are visiting in a few weeks so will have a good explore...

[MrsEricBana]

Don't know about Frome but the arts scene in Bath is great. Larkhall on the outskirts of Bath sounds like it might suit you, with //www.swainswickschool.co.uk as the school for your ds. Quick into London from Bath (v quick to M4 from Larkhall or train fast and even faster when electrification finished).

[MrsEricBana]

Larkhall:

• walkable in to all that Bath has to offer
  
• thriving community in own right (Alice Park - lovely park, fab playground, cycle track for littlies, community cafe, gatherings, bands etc; New Oriel Hall is heart of the community - //www.neworielhall.org.uk )
  
• Good mix of shops from little supermarket, greengrocers, deli, chemist, wine shop, amazing hardware store, post office etc
  
• It's arty!
  
• Lots of housing options inc gorgeous cottages
  

I'll shut up now!

[JohnnyBarthes]

I second the Bath suggestion, but it is £££s. Frome and even Bradford on Avon are far more affordable.

[Ribenahead]

Where we are now we can afford a 1 bed flat (we happen to be in a dated 60s 2 bed flat at very cheap rent) but if we move for the same price we can get a 3-4 bed house! To me that's almost a no brainer!

[fromeah]

Frome does have a lot going on for a town the size it is, but I would second what people say about the schools and clubs. The first schools are generally OK, but after that it is a problem.

Also, I would try and get your 5 year old into a school in the village you want to move into. Not only will the journey be a giant pain every morning but you'll really miss out on being part of the village community.

Finally, there is a new head at St Johns, who is quite evangelical and some parents have moved their children from the school.

[tumbleouttabed]

We moved from SW London to Bath about 18 months ago. We looked around the area widely - considered living near Trowbridge, Frome, Bradford on Avon, Rode, Beckington, Norton St Philip etc. and looked at houses and schools in all those areas, but ended up on the south side of Bath as it felt like a bit too much of a leap to go from a fairly urban environment to somewhere that felt like it might be in the middle of nowhere. We feel that the decision was right for us as we are right on the edge of Bath (semi rural feel) but walking distance into town and all that Bath (and the station to Bristol/London beyond) has to offer. When visiting Frome it does seem fairly alternative (depending on your starting point, I suppose...). Good luck with your decisions.

[happygirly]

Hi Ribenahead, did you make the move in the end and how do you find it? We nearly moved to Frome from SW London earlier last year for similar reasons, but got cold feet in the end and didn't go. Still thinking of it though. Our 5 year old got offered a place at St. John's too!

[MrsEricBana]

I was wondering too!

[Gilbertgrape22]

Hi there, we have currently bought a house in Frome, but worryingly looking at the statistics it seems Frome is a little deprived in education and employment and in general low on all social data. ( we probably should have checked this first before we bought but we loved frome and jumped in). Is Frome as bad as the stats suggest and full of unemployment and poor education?

[fromeah]

Mostly people seem to be complaining that it's full of middle class ponces moving from London, so I suppose it depends where you're standing really.

More seriously, it's a very mixed place. There are some pockets of deprivation, but people are also moving in and driving up the house prices. There are loads more 'artisan' shops and restaurants, and apparently there's now also going to be a craft beer shop too, so I am thinking that the answer is probably not.

And finally, what kind of 'bad' are you worried about? There's not a lot of crime (but then I used to live in hackney, so my standards are quite low). Schools are mixed, but that's as much to do with low funding from Somerset and the government as Frome. In terms of restaurants/gigs/arts/general entertainment it's great.

[Gilbertgrape22]

My concern is that when put in the postcode for foster Road ( were We bought) it seemed really deprived and had a lot of crime. I was wondering is this just one of those pockets. I suppose I am just feeling really confused because everyone I have spoke seems really happy about the place and loves it but the stats just don't seem to back it up

[giraffey89]

I know this thread is a bit old but ooo I felt the need to write something! Have lived here for 10 years, having moved from London, and it is fantastic! It has gone from strength to strength, with much investment coming in. The only people that I hear complaining now are the born and bred Fromies who do not like the Londoners moving in, driving up house prices, and closing down the Poundstretchers to open artisan restaurants.

The first schools are fantastics, and there's a great choice - of course the Steiner Academy has attracted families from all over the UK, and unburdened some of the oversubscribed schools around it.
Frome College has really turned itself around the last 5 years after an unfavourable inspection

Gilbert Have you moved to Foster Road? If you have then by now you will see it is a lovely little area, close to Keyford and a nice walk into town.

I hope anyone reading this who is considering a move to Frome will definitely come to visit and see that its a wonderful place to raise a family.

[idontknowmyusernameanymore]

I'm sorry but foster Road (keyford is the area) IS a very rough place to live. As well as The Mount, and Rodden Road. All high in crime and well known for the wrong reasons. I grew up there (in a nice part of town though) and this sticks with you, I wouldn't buy there. Sorry if this offends, but my honest opinion. People will give you the look once you say you're from that area.

[idontknowmyusernameanymore]

Really hope to not offend with that, it's just my experience, yours could be different.

[giraffey89]

Idon'tknow, using the phrase "very rough place to live" is quite a subjective thing to say. We moved from a rough patch in east london where we lived for 5 years. You want to see rough? Thats rough. When you say high in crime please can you provide some examples (and please keep them to within the last 5 years for perspective).

What you are actually referring to are areas in Frome with a higher proportion of lower income, specifically the Mount. Which yes 30 years ago you may have found burnt out cars. But guess what, things have really changed, Frome is changing shape, and you have an outdated perspective.
I live in that area and no one has ever given me "The Look" as you put it when I say thats where I live. If they did, they are snobs, and unfortunately, Frome does have their fair share of snobbery..