Anyone live in Witham/Coggeshall

[bowbluebell]

We are looking to move to this area with our eighteen month old and don't know it at all, which feels a little daunting.

I was hoping for advice about nice spots to look in, what facilities are like for famlies and where's good for green spaces. We want to be able to walk to the shops/school but don't want to be anywhere too built up. DH will commute to Liverpool street each day and I'll drive to Dagenham twice a week. DD will spend a day a week with a childminder/nursery.

Basically, any advice or information gratefully received (including on pronunciation- it's Witt-um, right?)! We are looking at houses in Witham (mill lane) and Coggeshall on SUnday- which will be only our second time of visiting! All feels a little scary but we've accepted an offer on our flat in London now, so I guess we've got to get going!

Thanks

I'm from Maldon and around here Witham is known as being a bit nasty with not-very-good schools but I only know it vaugely so I don't really speak from experience. It is Witt-um though, you're right.

What about Chelmsford, Danbury or South Woodham Ferrers?

You will get more for your money in Witham certainly, just a longer commute. It's a bit rough though.

Witham is not as desirable as Coggeshall but excellent for commuting. The surrounding villages are lovely though. Coggeshall has a fantastic secondary school where my ds' go. It's a high achieving, ofsted outstanding, school. Whereas Bramston, witham's secondary school has been in special measures.

Coggeshall is a tiny but lovely town, it would be my choice over Witham.. I'm in Copford 4 miles away and have lived in this area nearly all my life.........and do quite like it.

I would thoroughly recommend Danbury - lovely place. But no station and you'd have to drive to Chelmsford which is very busy and a bit of a pain.

Wickham Bishops is really lovely too. Not much in the way of shops (well, barely any really) but it's an easy drive to Witham for the station. Mostly large houses there though, so not sure if there would be much for smaller/younger families on thew market.

Maldon is a very pleasant little market town (much like Witham in many ways and I'd say it has a similar mix of people - I would argue that Witham is no rougher than Maldon, TBH, and I know both places very well.) Much cheaper because it's a tad inaccessible - long drive to a station. But the high street has everything you'd need, and there is always plenty of availability for family housing.

I posted a message and then did further research and wasn't sure it was true!

I grew up in Witham and my parents still live there. I have to say I think there are parts where it is ok to live but I wouldn't be keen on my DS going to school there.
I would opt for Coggeshall if you can get in.

Fellatio, what were you doing awake at 3 this morning?

Practising the first draft of a commuters guide to North Essex

Yes, my favourite topic! I'm an Evangelical Essex fan! DH was out on the lash last night, came in at 1.30, woke me up chatting, then left me wide awake all night long while he snored his head off.

Thanks for the ideas. I think that it's fair to say the general view is that Coggeshall is generally lovlier than Witham in many ways!

I'm very aware of the schools issue now, having perused several OFSTED reports.

We are looking at a little place in Coggeshall tomorrow so fingers crossed. It is an expensive town (and we really don't want to go over the 250000 stamp duty threshold), but we just need somewhere to live for the next five years or so, when we know that we will be in a position to buy something quite a bit nicer. As people have said, it would probably be be best to 'get into' Coggeshall now so that we will be able to settle in the area andget to know schools etc.

There's not much on the market at the moment, so we are actually thinking about renting for six months or so while we find somewhere.

Thanks again, this advice is really, really helpful.

bowbluebell - have a look on the mn local section - try posting in the Colchester one as quite a few people are in the surrounding villages/towns.

I agree - Coggeshall beats Witham hands down.

How did you get on today??!