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Higham Ferres / Rushden

35 replies

Snoopy10 · 03/01/2020 18:30

Buying on the border of the two towns- anyone bought there recently, or lived there long term? Pros and cons? Would love to hear whether this is an area on the up. I like the look of it and seems to have good access to London and Bedford. I know the Library in Higham has just closed but there are rumours they are planning a new community centre? Any local information welcome. Happy New Year!

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MaxPaddyandHarry · 03/01/2020 19:25

Congratulations. Higham is usually regarded as the better of the two - quaint market square, Farmer's Market, excellent bakery. Rushden is regarded as a bit rough by some, but has good areas. DS and family have lived happily in both.
Rushden Lakes shopping centre is good and Rushden Waitrose is the best I have been in.
Stanwick Lakes is also worth a visit.

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Snoopy10 · 04/01/2020 07:01

Thank MaxPaddy - Will have to check out the Bakery :)

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Snoopy10 · 05/01/2020 18:00

Any other locals have an opinion? How are trains from Wellingborough to London?

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MaxPaddyandHarry · 05/01/2020 19:18

Trains from Wellingborough to London have been reduced. You need to go to Kettering or Bedford for more choice. Bedford has a lot more choice than Kettering, but is also very popular, but fares are cheaper.
The A6 to Bedford can be a pain, especially in the morning.
Sorry it still seems to be just me!

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ExchangedCat · 05/01/2020 21:37

Trains from Wellingborough to London are expensive and not frequent enough. Higham is nice but Rushden not so much. The A6 can get quite congested at rush hour and major works are about to begin on the Chowns Mill roundabout.

Northamptonshire county council is in major financial trouble. They're closing most libraries around the county and many other services are being reduced.

On the plus side, Stanwick and Rushden Lakes are both excellent facilities within easy reach. If you have children who need to see the paediatrician/other services, you're close to both the Rectory Road and Nene Park outpatient clinics which saves travel to Kettering.

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MaxPaddyandHarry · 06/01/2020 04:49

From Higham you can use Kimbolton Road to get to the A6 and Northampton Road to get to the A45 so would only need to use Chown's Mill if going towards Kettering or the A14. However at the end of Northampton Road is Rushden Lakes roundabout which is also a bit of a dog's breakfast.
ExchangedCat glad there is someone else with local knowledge.
The GP surgery at Higham is not great. Not sure what other options are open to you, but the one off the A6 in Newton Road is highly regarded. There is a Pharmacy there too.
Do you need to know about schools OP?

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ExchangedCat · 06/01/2020 11:56

Yes, there are alternative routes, it's just that traffic tends to gridlock when everyone is avoiding the main route (unhappy memories of spending an hour on the less-than-two-miles between Stanwick and Chown's Mill). Hopefully this time Highways will have planned it a bit better Hmm

That aside though, as long as you don't mind a little driving, there are plenty of places to visit and things to do: Irchester country park, Fermyn Woods, Kirby Hall and their roaming peacocks, Lyveden New Bield, picnics by the river, Podington garden centre is good for a visit and lunch/coffee - the kids like following the fish in the stream, trampolining in Northampton, several nearby swimming pools, etc.

How familiar are you with the area OP?

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Snoopy10 · 09/01/2020 17:26

Hi MaxPaddy and Exchange - thank you so much for all the detailed information.
I’m not really at all familiar with the area. I have only lived in Bedford 6 months - I will have to commute to Bedford so it’s the A6 and Bromham Rd roundabout which worries me most especially in the morning. Thanks for the info on the drs service. Any good dentists?
Shame about the council’s finances - I hear there is investment being ploughed into Rushden with the lakes and planning permission for lots of new houses. Why were the trains reduced from Wellingborough, I would have thought increased lines north were on the agenda! Thanks again so much for the information- I will be able to walk to Higham centre as I’m only one road over the border - Think the surrounding countryside is lovely. I was living in London and before that the Cotswolds so this is all new to me. I go into London once or twice a month so don’t need to commute.

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MaxPaddyandHarry · 09/01/2020 18:04

We use My Dentist/ADP at Higham and have always been happy. AJs Dental Suite is also meant to be good.
No idea why they reduced the trains at Wellingborough. They are building a massive development called Stanton Cross which will probably attract commuters who will then have to go to Kettering or Bedford. Doesn't make sense.
Allow plenty of time to get to Bedford. There can be big queues at the end of Paula Ratcliffe Way. Also BedPol have cameras along that route and they are active, so don't risk speeding. DS found out the hard way!

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flowerycurtain · 09/01/2020 19:16

There was a stabbing recently in Higham Ferrers high street.

The traffic on the A45 can be horrendous and avoid Rushden Lakes at all cost on a Saturday.

However there's loads of outdoor stuff for kids. Irchester, Barnwell and Stanwick lakes. Great cycle path along from Thrapston to Rushden lakes.

It's a lot cheaper than Bedford. Bedford seems to me like a dying town - I wouldn't worry about leaving it for Higham Ferrers. I imagine the roundabout near BMS is particularly bad because of the Bromham bridge being shut.

It can be a county of 2 halves - Rushden/Higham Stanwick/Raunds etc.

I'm local so if I can help then please ask or pm!

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MaxPaddyandHarry · 09/01/2020 22:30

I didn't know about the stabbing!

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Sux2buthen · 09/01/2020 22:35

I didn't know about the stabbing either. I think that might be a mistaken location

Rushden is mostly a dive and getting worse. More houses definitely not needed and the high street is pathetic now.
Higham is nice, every other shop in the high street is hair or beauty, which in such a small town is overkill.
Bakery is lovely.

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whydoesitalwayshappentome · 09/01/2020 22:43

The stabbing was in Earls Barton not Higham Ferrers.

Both Rushden and Higham are not too bad to live and Rushden Lakes is lovely but can be a difficult place to park at weekends.

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MaxPaddyandHarry · 10/01/2020 05:05

Thank you 'whydoesitalwayshappen'.

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Snoopy10 · 10/01/2020 06:59

Maxpaddy thank you so much for all your information. It feels like a big step moving. If the Higham dentist is alright that would work well. Thanks for the tip rev AJs Dental Suite too though - will have a look. Really don’t understand the reduced trains - might investigate!
Flowerycurtains thanks for your post - I read about the stabbing - sounded like a personal dispute, sadly they happen everywhere. The shocked reaction of the community indicates this isn’t common for the area however so it doesn’t worry me too much. Will definitely take your tip about the lakes on Saturdays - they don’t look like they have enough parking for the facilities they are proving. Good to know about the cycle path.
Sux2buthen - Can only hope the new plans to build more houses means there are some plans to invest locally...
whydoesitalwayshappen sounds like lakes is a definite no go on weekends - hope they improve that!

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Snoopy10 · 10/01/2020 08:06

Rev = regarding
proving = providing 🤦🏼‍♀️

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ACurlyWurly · 10/01/2020 16:02

Lived in both but would choose Higham over Rushden. I live in one of the local villages now.
Train from Bedford is significantly cheaper than Wellingborough and the journey to Wellingborough on a bad day from Rushden and Higham can take nearly as long.
Good links to everywhere from there and its a good base. I go to the lakes often on weekends arriving just as the shops are open and then out again before its too rammed on the roads. Even though its sometimes extremely busy I have never queued too long to get in. I often go late afternoons too and week day evenings (on my way home from work) are quiet. The roads are slow but keep moving it just depends if you are in a rush or not.

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LolaSkoda · 10/01/2020 16:35

Rushden lakes is great, but agree with others that there is definitely a bottleneck as there is only one exit and entrance on site.

I live locally and am in the process of moving near to rushden. A lot of people I know a similar age to me (thirties), are looking to move to that area due to rushden lakes and because they see it as an area which may see a rise in house prices due to the development going on there. Although pp feeling like the area is going downhill is a bit worrying!

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MaxPaddyandHarry · 10/01/2020 17:14

I have lived in the area for forty years. Yes, Rushden High Street is a shadow of its former self, but Waitrose, Asda, two Lidls and Rushden Lakes are all good additions. The road network is much better. You used to have to drive through endless villages to get to Northampton.
There is still plenty of lovely countryside. Stanwick Lakes is a favourite of ours.
I don't think the area is going down hill. There is more crime, but there is more crime everywhere than 40 years ago.

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Sux2buthen · 10/01/2020 19:30

I was recently followed and received an attempted mugging in Rushden while pushing a buggy during the day . I've lived in higham about 35 years, never had anything like that before.
They seem to be building more and more houses but no walkable facilities so traffic is too much for the area. And the senior schools are dire, although working to improve.
Don't get me wrong, I do like the area but it's changing and will be unrecognisable soon

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MaxPaddyandHarry · 10/01/2020 19:50

True about the secondary schools. Who would have thought that Raunds Manor would become the school of choice? There are children being bussed there from Rushden.

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flowerycurtain · 10/01/2020 21:07

Ah, sorry. My mistake about the stabbing. I should have checked before I

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Willow4987 · 11/01/2020 14:26

We looked at higham when we were moving to the area last year and if it wasn’t for the schools situation I think we may have chosen it as it does seem nice

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kevintheorangecarrot · 11/01/2020 14:58

Yes I have and I wouldn't recommend it, but that's just me and my experience. Good luck with it!

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MaxPaddyandHarry · 11/01/2020 19:22

kevintheorangecarrot do you mean you have lived in Higham/Rushden,? As a friend of mine says 'You speak as you find'.

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