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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think South Essex is a nice place to live?

52 replies

oldboiler · 08/10/2013 20:55

Southchurch and Thorpe Bay areas look good to me despite being warned off them? Any experience/knowledge of the areas greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
sydlexic · 08/10/2013 23:05

I think there is a lot of difference in property prices according to how easy you can commute to London. The towns with the stations with straight through trains are more expensive.

Original poster
oldboiler · 08/10/2013 23:08

House is in the catchment for thorpe greenways school if anyone knows it. Ofsted says its good.

OP posts:
Poshnosh · 08/10/2013 23:11

Im in Rochford and I love it here!! I did move from shoeburyness though.

Doinmummy · 08/10/2013 23:18

Hi Comewine. I'm not essex born and bred, although I've been here for 20 odd years now and I really like it too

ScarletLady02 · 08/10/2013 23:20

I can also honestly say...I've lived in Essex for nearly all of my 30 years and until TOWIE I never heard ANYONE talk like that!!!

howrudeforme · 08/10/2013 23:32

Depends what you want and the trade off.

My parents moved to thorpe bay in the late 70's so started junior school there. Fine for me but parents (being older and stuff) realised their mistake - no culture - end of the train line - end of the a127 and a12 - nowhere to go. Snotty given the demographics (hilariously snobby - think birds of a feather). same of leigh but just a a bit near london if you're a commuter.

Df now lives in hockkley - not bad after thorpe bay. He's retired and tired so is ok with it- wouldn't be if younger. I still gangs of bored kids etc on the odd times I'm there.

Worse now.

Southchurch - avoid - they've tried to upmarket it - failed.
But school generally in south east essex are fine if that's your reason for moving there.

Properties are value for money but the prices are increasing.

howrudeforme · 08/10/2013 23:34

I grew up in thorpe bay and the linguistics are pretty towie.

TigOldBitties · 08/10/2013 23:53

My cousins are from Leigh and talk like their off TOWIE, but then I'm not that different and I'm from the East End.

Btw I LOVE Essex.

ScarletLady02 · 08/10/2013 23:57

I'm sure there are places with that accent...I just get annoyed when people assume ALL Essex folk have it. Up here in the North we're more country bumpkin types with a dash of wanna-bee London thrown in.

Since i spent 4 years in Deptford the London-isms are more apparent in my accent.

TigOldBitties · 09/10/2013 00:02

OP Everyone should read my this Essex appreciation thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a1733155-To-Love-Essex

ScarletLady02 · 09/10/2013 00:07

I posted there Grin

JakeBullet · 09/10/2013 00:18

I live in Basildon which despite the bad press is okay and surrounded by beautiful greenery,

As for TOWIE, never seen it and no desire to either after catching a clip of it. What a load of rubbish it looks.

topknob · 09/10/2013 06:57

I was born in Colchester and grew up there, moved all round Essex and now settled in Halstead. Beautiful countryside on our doorstep.

caramelwaffle · 09/10/2013 08:09

I like Essex.

Prefer West Essex, and waiting for a Euro millions win to buy a chi chi place in North Essex.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 09/10/2013 09:39

I have lived in Essex all my life, grew up in Danbury and then moved to Leigh when I was 17.....I have never heard anyone speak the way they do on TOWIE!

freddiefrog · 09/10/2013 09:43

I was born and brought up in Essex until I headed to the south coast 10 years ago.

It was lovely - we were up around Saffron Walden/Clavering.

TheHappyEverAfterFairy · 09/10/2013 10:52

ooo I like this thread. I will soon be moving back to north Essex (colch) after twenty years away. it's exciting and scary as I don't know so many folk down there now, but have always clung on to the idea of returning sometime. we will struggle to find primary school places but the grammars are a huge draw. being close (ish) to the seaside and the Essex/Suffolk countryside is also a big attraction and the only way I've managed to convince DH it's worth giving it a go. fingers crossed we'll be in for chrimb.

Sallykitten · 09/10/2013 11:22

Just don't get ill or have a baby. The health trusts round there are diabolical.

Tropicalchancer · 09/10/2013 11:56

I'm in shoebury (the old town) an love it! Been here 15 years and never had any trouble, good local schools etc my gf lives in Southchurch and that is also a lovely place to live x

AngelsWithSilverWings · 09/10/2013 12:11

I'm in Leigh and love it. It's nothing like Towie ( not in my social circle anyway!). I have family in Billericay and the younger ones have developed a bit of a Towie way of talking!

Things may go a bit more Towie in Leigh once the owner of The Sugar Hut finally finishes ( or even makes a start on) his refurbishment of The Grand Hotel.

We moved here for the schools which are excellent but the bonus has been lovely neighbours, a great small and friendly community and the beautiful surroundings. We love the views of the Estuary, Hadleigh Castle and cycling around Belfairs woods.

I like the fact that there are lots of other SAHMs like me so I can have a social life during the day while the kids are at school.

People here do describe Leigh as being in a bit of a bubble though. If you go a mile outside of the Leigh area things are very different.

I wouldn't live anywhere else though.

LatteLady · 09/10/2013 12:15

I live in Leigh and am part of the WI in Southchurch Village, I was born in Rochford, went to school in Westcliff with a 20 year sojourn in London.

I love it here, it has a bright cultural side from the Art festival, music festivals, theatre groups, choirs etc. Schools are pretty good.

You should however be warned there are no pubs in Thorpe Bay as the land was originally owned by the Salvation Army...

Hope your house hunting is successful :)

AngelsWithSilverWings · 09/10/2013 12:17

JakeBullet - I agree about Basildon - I grew up there and was always a bit mystified by the bad reputation. I only moved away to be near a particular school and to give my kids a chance to grow up near the beach!

friendlymum67 · 09/10/2013 12:25

I live in Thurrock and have done for 15 years +! DP lives in Leigh. Good and bad to both but tend to agree with Angel re Leigh being a bit of a bubble - that or my DP is just weird Grin.

I am born and bred Kent but get heartily fed up with the slating of Essex generally - I don't have what is considered an 'Essex' accent and neither do my DCs or most of my friends.

Every area has positives and negatives (Lakeside is 10 mins drive from here!) but not everyone can afford to move/live in different areas. We are very settled here and won't be moving in the near future.

CatThiefKeith · 09/10/2013 12:30

Anathema - I am from Grays…Southend is vair posh in comparison! Grin

Ppendlefurgh · 27/07/2017 17:04

I am buying a property in lyndene in south benfleet. Is this a good area to live? I would not like to move again after5 moves. Is this a good area for a single middle aged woman?