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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The most family friendly place in Essex?

169 replies

nousernamesareworking · 25/12/2012 17:47

My husband and I were born and raised in Central London. However, were tired of the scenery and want a nice, quiet place to move to where we can raise a family. Our initial thought was Essex and a family member suggested moving to Rainham. Unfortunately, were both very ignorant of places outside of London and I was hoping that some of you mumsnetters could help!
Is Rainham a nice, family friendly place to raise children? (we have only visited a couple of times, but we like what we have seen. However, the opinion of someone who is there more often/perhaps lives there would be more helpful).
Are there other areas in Essex that are nicer to bring up a family?
Thanks! :)

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/12/2012 14:46

Merry I know!! I was really pissed off when I went last year and had to pay for parking!!!

Merryouchmas · 27/12/2012 14:34

I know exactly where you danbury lot are talking about. Love danbury spent many weekends walking round the lakes/common areas. They now charge for parking cheeky feckers

Grin
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/12/2012 13:59

I'd gone by then!!!!

Bummer but I am sure you ended up somewhere equally as lovely :)

Oldyellow · 27/12/2012 13:57

Avoid Thurrock. Like the Plague.

FellatioNelson · 27/12/2012 13:55

It was 1999.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/12/2012 13:24

Fellatio what year did you try and buy St Cleres Way?? Shame, was a lovely road with lovely people :)

MmeGuillotine · 27/12/2012 13:20

It is nice. I grew up in a rambling Victorian mansion on the outskirts, which he knew about obviously, but he thought the town itself was going to be some grotty concrete hell with burnt out cars in the front gardens etc. I proved him wrong! ;)

FellatioNelson · 27/12/2012 12:55

Coggeshall is bloody gorgeous.

MmeGuillotine · 27/12/2012 12:52

This thread is making me so homesick. I live in Bristol now with my Bristolian husband who has NEVER been to Essex and likes to make stupid jokes about it. I showed him some photos of Coggeshall and the house that I grew up in there and he was completely taken aback as it was NOTHING like he had imagined.

I've also lived in Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend and Thundersley but wouldn't recommend any of them tbh!

Jinsei · 27/12/2012 12:32
Grin
FellatioNelson · 27/12/2012 12:20

I will have to tell you by PM, as I am in danger of outing myself!

Jinsei · 27/12/2012 12:13

It is a lovely village, though it has become stupidly expensive now. So many fond memories!

Where did you end up instead Fellatio?

FellatioNelson · 27/12/2012 11:59

God I was devastated when that house fell through, I loved Danbury so much I thought it was the end of the world. Funnily enough despite looking at loads of houses in Danbury and LB in latter years I never did end up living there.

Jinsei · 27/12/2012 11:54

Grin fellatio, small world indeed. Betty and I have discovered by PM that we know tons of people in common!

FellatioNelson · 27/12/2012 11:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/12/2012 11:25

Marietta used to cut my hair too....we lived virtually opposite her!! Remember her son Jacob...I have some old photos of me and him when we were very young!! And Max the dad??

So yeah, on the corner opposite the Kundigs, the house with the long brick wall going down Beaumont Park with the big Silver Birch Tree which used to knock the wall down in high winds.

Jinsei · 27/12/2012 11:23

Wow, we were very close then!

Yes, we knew the Lees family, they lived just a few doors away from us. Near the Tylers if you knew them too?

Which corner of Beaumont Park were you on? Did you live next door to Mr Ridd or on the other side of the road?

You must have been near the Kundig family too? Marietta used to cut my hair!

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/12/2012 11:18

..and I used to love the school dinners !!! :)

KaraStarbuckThrace · 27/12/2012 11:18

Fellatio - I grew up in South East Essex (Basildon) and I whole heartedly agree with you. North Essex is far nicer and prettier than the South.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/12/2012 11:18

I lived on the corner of st cleres way and beaumont park right near the back footpath. You must have lived near a family called the Lee's then?? Mum and dad were good friends with them.

Jinsei · 27/12/2012 11:17

I bet we know loads of the same people too. How funny!!

My mum worked as a dinner lady at the school, so you might have know her too! Grin

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/12/2012 11:15

Thats it...the Kiln Room :) Quite the scandal back then I remember.

Yep, I am still in touch with her...bet we know loads of the same people. I lived in Danbury till I was 17 and was a regular down the Bell and the Cricketers!

Yeah thats the one......all the kids would meet up down there and play games like rounders etc.....was so nice :)

Jinsei · 27/12/2012 11:11

yy, do you mean the green around Beaumont Park?

Jinsei · 27/12/2012 11:10

I think it was the kiln room and not the stationary cupboard. Wink

I remember Mrs Rand's daughter and her brother. :) My DSis is still in touch with Mr Hudson, he lives in Scotland now.

We lived on the heights itself, but on the corner with St.Clere's Way. My parents still lived there until a few years ago. I used to love walking into the village through the churchyard, and going down to the lakes.

For secondary, I went to Ingatestone..

strumpetpumpkin · 27/12/2012 11:05

wivenhoe is nice. I think it gets mentioned a lot as its seen as a desirable area in colchester., Quite middle class but in a nice way. Very mumsnetty ;)