To ask for honest opinions about Chafford Hundred, Essex

[MumOfTwoSweethearts]

Good Evening All,

We are in the process of viewing houses in Chafford Hundred, Grays, Essex and I was hoping to get some honest and frank opinion on here, please?

We are looking at a 4BR Semi Detached property in a cul de sac close to the Gorge. We like the area because it is quiet, well kept, and the ones we have viewed do not require much work or improvement.

I was hoping anyone who lived in the area could offer very frank and truthful opinion about the area in terms of safety, schools for children, healthcare, value for money and the neighborhood - the people living there, are they welcoming and neighborly?

Thank you all.

[khaliwali]

Grays can't be all that bad...it produced Russell Brand

[robingood19]

I like the name Chafford Hundred....but know nothing.

[IlanaK]

I stand by what I said about Chafford Hundred. I woul d'hôtel move back there ever. However, as someone mentioned Hornchurch and Cranham......I have a friend that lives in Cranham and it is lovely. She also teaches at lots of schools in that area including hornchurch and likes it. She grew up round there too. So those places I would recommend. Dn't know Gidea Parkso can't comment that area.

[IlanaK]

That should say....never move back there. Weird iPad correction.

[Hatesponge]

Cranham is overpriced - you pay practically the same as Upminster yet you're a mile or more away from the same amenities.

Upminster generally is v nice though expensive. Schools are excellent - but I would say that as I went to school there :)

Hornchurch is cheaper than Upminster, also decent amenities BUT no mainline rail station, though it is on the Tube (District line). So transport not so good.

Gidea Park basically a small suburb of Romford, you are close to everything but not in the middle of town. Quite expensive, ok area. On the Romford train line which goes into Liverpool St.

Rainham is where I grew up (outs self totally now..) It's not bad - trains are good (you're still within zone 6 which importantly you're not in Chafford Hundred - that can add a lot if you commute to London) but it can be quite small-town at times - lots of my childhood friends still live there or close by. You're a bit further out than Hornchurch/Upminster/G Park and a bit close to Dagenham etc. But it is quite a bit cheaper than the other areas mentioned.

[spookshowangel]

my dp is from Essex he says and i quote chafford is "chav central" he says its the "ass end of Essex" and " it perpetuates all the bad stereotypes of Essex" saying that "its near lakeside, has good links to london and is better than grays or tilbury" but i think he only felt the need to say that because he has friends that live there and felt bad for his really strong reaction.

[Karbea]

I love Essex! I'd move back there in a second from Bucks.

Why do you want to move there specifically? There are nicer places.

[arsenicandoldlace]

sorry only skim read. But tbh Chafford Hundred sounds like HEVEN compared to E13!!

We have just escaped E16 and have no regrests!!! the place is a DUMP!

[JamieAgain]

Slight tangent here, but Essex names don't conjure the best image do they?

Grays
Pitsea
Vange
Fobbing

(Essex girl, BTW)

[JamieAgain]

SE Essex is nicer - Leigh, Westcliff, Southend

[arsenicandoldlace]

I see your point JamieAgain but there are some really nice places in the uk with equally misleading names - Three Cocks, Scratchy Bottom, Thong, Ugley (which is in Essex btw)

[Vicky2011]

Wyre Piddle


Which is nowhere near Essex


As you were.

[arsenicandoldlace]

We have the River Wantsum near us and i grew up near the river ouse - blimey us brits are quite creative names with of places, rivers etc. Mind you alot of them do seem to be linked to sex, body parts or bodily functions

[arsenicandoldlace]

bollock sorry seem to be tryi ng to hyjack your thread

[arsenicandoldlace]

bollocks

[kay1975]

Hi,

We moved from E15 to Little Thurrock, Grays nearly 6 yrs ago. We also looked at Chafford Hundred, but I wasn't too keen on a new build.

The area as a whole is great, our boys go to a fantastic catholic school and the pre-school across the road us lovely.

Yes, some of the people can be a bit Essex "common", but don't you get common people everywhere?

I lived in East London all my life and found Little Thurrock, the perfect move for us. The transport links back to London are fantastic whether by road or train.

Areas are what you make of it!

If you want any further info, just let me know!

Michaela

[Pakdooik]

Chafford Hundred is a decent, new housing community not far from where I live.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chafford_Hundred

I know a teacher from Chafford Hundred Campus who hasn't got a good word to say about it.

So buy the house but look for schools elsewhere

[Bixie]

Just wondered if you'd moved yet?!

I live in Chafford Hundred currently; not too far from the station. Have been here for nearly 7 years, living in 2 different houses and the area has changed dramatically since then... to the point where I'm devastated that my boys are going to have to grow up here (unless we come into some serious money that is!). We moved here because the schools were fantastic at that time and it seemed a really lovely place to live and bring up a family (without the issue of DSS housing! No offence but that's why we moved here) In reality, it is overcrowded, over populated and is now home to people who have been moved out of the Stratford area in prep for the Olympics :( Nice; apparently they have been given relocation packages for housing, cars etc...
We bought at the wrong time and are now in negative equity so are stuck here. Yes; i know there are far worse places to live and i never feel 'unsafe' here (the shopping is amazing and roads not usually that bad apart from Xmas time) but i'm just disappointed that we work hard to pay for a nice house in what we thought was a nice area and it seems to be being dragged down more and more :( I love Essex and if i could buy again now, i would be looking at places like Rayleigh or Upminster or one of the little villages further out nearer to a town xxx

[CardyMow]

Another Colchester girl here! I have lived all over Essex - you couldn't PAY me to live in Chafford Hundred, Grays or Thurrock. Or Basildon or Pitsea. Almost all are places I have lived in the past - and have absolutely NO desire to live in again!

However, as has been mentioned on here quite a few times - Colchester is luffly. Didn't realise there were so many people from Colchester on here!!

[PenguinArmy]

There are some really not nice areas of Colchester as well though. Probably still not as bad as Clacton where I grew up

[ripstheirthroatoutliveupstairs]

Have you considered Billericay or Chelmsford? Broomfield area of Chelmsford has a lovely villagey feel or at least it did 12 years ago. Good schools too, or, 12 years ago it did.
I wouldn't live in CH because of the name of the local pub. Is it still the Treacle Mine?

[CardyMow]

Oh yes - some not so nice areas in Colchester - but IMO even the not-so-nice areas in Colchester (have lived in the ones you are thinking of BTW, in the past - am in a naice part now) are not as 'not-so-good' as Grays or Pitsea / Vange. (Having also lived there...).

[MizzChic]

I live in Chafford Hundred and I think it is a nice place to live and bring up your family. I'm not a mum, but I have friends who are pregnant and I can't really think of many reasons as to why I wouldn't recommend it.

I work in London and admittedly spend quite a lot of time there, but as someone who feels like I have lived in many different places, chafford hundred is an ideal place to bring up children. Which side of the gorge are you on? There are about 3-4 different gorges here and the best one is near Drake road- there is the dr's surgery, hairdressers, vet, takeaway, tesco express there too. As its a new town, there isn't too much going on, but I think if you look hard enough you will find things. Ofcourse maybe you cannot compare to London, but who has time for that when you're working and being a mum anyway.

On the whole - there are great and convenient amenities all around with fresh air you wouldn't get in the city

[slinkysaluki]

Grew up in Gray's, Little Thurrock. Used to be lovely but sadly gone down the pan like a lot if other places. I moved to Kent coast 11 years ago. Wouldn't go back.

[slinkysaluki]

Russell Brand was a friend of my brother's, used to come to tea when I lived at home