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Original poster

DH offered a job in IPSWICH. If you live there or know it well, Please tell me all the negatives and positives. He has to accept by tonight!

61 replies

TodayToday · 05/12/2007 14:12

We've 2 children aged 5 and 2. DH has been offered a HoD job at a private school in Ipswich.

Where are the nice places to live? We'd probably have appx £230,000 for a house. We'd prefer a house with not too small a garden but other than that we're not fussed. Could we afford a house in a catchment area for a good primary school? Would we have any hope of getting our 5 year old into a good school joining in Year 1? We'd rather not send them to DH's school at primary level.

What are the good things to do in Ipswich. We like cycling, walking, being outdoors, supporting local events. Are people friendly, welcoming in Ipswich? Are there lots of incomers?

Will the whole area be flooded in 10 years time?!?

What else should I know? We'd be moving from the South.

Thank you anyone who can answer this.

OP posts:
IntergalacticWalrus · 05/12/2007 15:23

He told me he's just using Vanessa Joe Le Taxt Guest House Paradiso as a front, because he's fed up with skinny birds, and now he wants a bit of blubber

ProfYaffle · 05/12/2007 15:27

Depends what you're used to JWN, I moved here from Warrington and thought the restaurants etc round here just weren't up to the standard I was used to in Manchester. However, that was almost 8 years ago and either the restaurants have improved or I've just got used to it!

I now love living in Norfolk btw, wouldn't move back up north for anything.

jesuswhatnext · 05/12/2007 15:30

i'm generally used to high class london eateries (she says sniffily)

jesuswhatnext · 05/12/2007 15:44

btw today - which school is dh going to work in? dd goes to the girls high in woolverstone, it's lovely!! very friendly in beautiful surroundings, again, a nice community feel to it.

Kewcumber · 05/12/2007 15:45

my singel 40 something friend has just moved from Islington to central Ipswich and so far loves it - however she's been there a few weeks and knows nothing about schools.

Kewcumber · 05/12/2007 15:48

£220,000

Kewcumber · 05/12/2007 15:50

big garden

Original poster
TodayToday · 05/12/2007 15:54

Oooh - I'd love a 1930s house. I'm not sure that's in a desirable area though. Anyone?

OP posts:
Original poster
TodayToday · 05/12/2007 15:56

Tell me more about Kesgrave and Grange Farm. What else is there? I'm not against a modern house - just depends on the layout of the area.

OP posts:
Original poster
TodayToday · 05/12/2007 15:58

It's a shame we don't even get the chance to go and check the area out before we have to decide. This seems to be the norm with private school employers.

OP posts:
MincecePie · 05/12/2007 16:01

DH is from Ipswich, I will try him to have a look at this later.

Kewcumber · 05/12/2007 16:04

this is the area of the first property nearest priamry rose Hill

Kewcumber · 05/12/2007 16:06

this is the second

5GoldenFIMBOs · 05/12/2007 16:09

Christchurch Park

DanJARMouse · 05/12/2007 16:10

im an ipswich girl... i love it but its been my home for so long - even though im in felixstowe now.

no idea about houses, my dad is just down the road from rosehill primary, i went to clifford road primary and copleston high. my dad works at westbourne high - avoid that end of town its dodgy!

SnowMuchToBits · 05/12/2007 17:53

Kesgrave (of which Grange Farm is the more modern part) Has the following facilities:-

A smallish Tesco, with five small shop/units next to it (hairdresser, 2nd hand shop, Estate Agents etc).

A library
A C of E church
A Roman Catholic church
A post office ( with very friendly people who run it)
A butchers (good quality)
A chemist
An Indian restaurant/takeaway
A newsagent/general stores
A tanning shop!
A Fish and Chip shop
A new Scout hall (plenty of scouts, guides etc, my ds goes to Beavers
A community centre with sports hall, and a field next to it (used for football, cricket)
A bowls club
A tennis club
A cricket club
A doctor's surgery
A vets
A dentists
2 primary schools (and another one just outside Kesgrave which serves some areas of Kesgrave
2 pubs (one olde rone on the main road, one in the Grange Farm area, was the original farmhouse.)
A secondary school
A youth club
Several "green open space areas, including one with play equipment for young children, one with "trim trail" and small goal posts for older children, one with "teen shelter" and other sports facilities, basketball etc.
A Millennium sports ground (with pavilion).

I've probably forgotten a few things...

Grange Farm is still being developed, so there are stil a few houses being built, but the new ones tend to be a bit more expensive, and also have slightly smaller rooms, and definitely smaller gardens. Our house is 13 years old, and has quite a reasonable sized garden. We have a 4 bed detached, which I think would sell for about £240-250k at the moment. Don't know if this is any help.

Sorry it took me quite a while to get back to you - I went to pick ds up from school, then have been a bit occupied as it is his birthday today - we have been present-opening!

SnowMuchToBits · 05/12/2007 17:54

Would agree with DanJARMouse to avoid the West of Ipswich.

throckenholt · 05/12/2007 17:59

do you prefer town or country, or village ? And which side of Ipswich ?

DarthVader · 05/12/2007 18:04

Where is Johnny Depp living exactly?
Anyone?

Boco · 05/12/2007 18:59

Near me.

PillockOfTheCommunity · 05/12/2007 19:02

do it
You don't have to live in Ipswich, it is very easy to get to by so many different means of transport that you could go anywhere close

And then you can come to a Suffolk Meet-up and hopefully there'll b emore than just me and so much there

Original poster
TodayToday · 05/12/2007 19:17

We decided we'll go for it and sort out the details in time. We'll rent when we first get there so I suppose we'll just have to end up wherever there is a decent primary school with a place in Year1. I like the fact there are lots of options of different places to live and we have been keen to get away from where we live now for quite a few years.

We won't be moving until April or July 08 but I'll be sure to look up the Suffolk people for a meet-up when we do.

OP posts:
PillockOfTheCommunity · 05/12/2007 19:19

excellent

that means the rest of you have to make it too

ProfYaffle · 05/12/2007 20:12

Fab - I'm sure you'll love it. And you'll get to meet Vanessa at the next Suffolk meet up.

SnowMuchToBits · 05/12/2007 20:19

Yes, it would be great to see more than 2 of us at a meet-up! Not that I didn't enjoy it - it was great to meet you, Pillock. Btw how is your ds2? I saw on another thread he was not so good - hope things have improved.

Do get in touch when you arrive here Today,Today and let us know where you have settled. By the way I am normally SoMuchToBits - this is my Christmas name!