Your thoughts on St Austell

[paddypaws76]

Hi I posted something like this in this forum before but thought I'd try again seeing as the babys now here, doing well and 6 months old already. Hubby and me still want to move down to St Austell, just wondered what you good people who live in and around think of the town in general, primary schools and areas to avoid. We don't drive and would like to be able to walk to the beach in an ideal world, so would need to be no more than about 2 miles inland. And a strange question, but on all the property pics on right move its always cloudy, a local told me it always is in that area, is that true? He said it had something to do with the clay pits. We have family in Hayle and St Agnes but its just too pricey there, and st austell ticks all the boxes. We also liked Par, closer to the beach but not so much choice. Is that also under the same grey cloud that seems to bug St Austell. Coming down in a couple of weeks, and would like to have a look at some property. Any thoughts would be great. Thanks X

[paddypaws76]

Is that village closer to porthpean than the other areas I mentioned? When we went to porthpean we went by car and had to go down quite a long narrow lane, but I seem to remember someone saying theres a footpath you can take that brings you out just above the beach. and what about polgooth? Is it a bit out in the sticks if you don't drive? Thanks for all the replies so far.

[southbank]

Sorry can't really help with your choice,but I grew up in Cornwall,lived in Fraddon and went to school in Indian Queens,then lived near Truro but loving reading this thread as I can picture all these places from my childhood!
Including going to the roller disco at Carlyon Bay!
Lots of great memories,haven't been home for years tbh

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Will second there not being many shops etc in redruth. Ilive quite close to the main town.....but the outskirts are lovely and great transport links into truro.

[paddypaws76]

I've got the internet, not the same as browsing though ay? Does anyone ever treck into Plymouth for shopping?

[snozzlemaid]

Trewoon is on the Truro side of St Austell and is also a nicer area to live. Polgooth again is nice, but I don't know what public transport is like for there.
Yes we go to Plymouth for shopping. You can be there in less than an hour from St Austell. We also go to Exeter sometimes too which is much better. Takes about an hour and a half.

[Sixtiesqueen]

Ooh south bank I went to Indian queens school! How old are you?

[piratecat]

not a fan here. just too local. sorry

[southbank]

Sixtiesqueen-I'm 37,I can remember my first teachers were Mrs Armstrong,who used to see my parents in Truro very often and still used to ask about me at the age of 34 before my parents moved away.
Other teachers I remember were Mrs Puttock and the headreacher Mr Bailey.
We used to walk from Higher Fraddon to the school down the back footpaths past the pit-can't remember the name of it,up through Pocahontas Crescent!

[Svrider]

That is all

[paddypaws76]

Been looking again this morning, lots of bungalows in and around st austell. Hadn't realy thought about having one before. At least you wouldn't be so overlooked I suppose?

[Iheartcrunchiebars]

I think if transport is an issue then falmouth is a brilliant option. The trains are easy and the busy routes are the best in Cornwall (because of the university). Penryn also worth thinking about. It's a little cheaper, you can walk into falmouth (about 25 mins) and has all the same benefits of the bus routes/train.

Falmouth has the beaches, the town and is a brilliant place to live. I lived there for a year and 2 years in penryn. Both were fab.

[paddypaws76]

We love Falmouth, Have though about Penryn but never been for a look around. Coming down in a couple of weeks and will be having a day in falmouth as usual. Maybe an idea to get off the train at Penryn and have a look around? Do you walk down the river into falmouth from Penryn?

[anythingforaquietnight]

Penryn is a great little town. Parking is a nightmare, but you don't have that problem! There is a large artist/alternative/boat/maker/musician type community there and is great for families with small kids.

There is a sizeable student population now as Falmouth University main site at Tremough is just above the town, but other than causing parking grief the influence on the area seems to be positive as it tends to attract older students and post grads as its far from the flesh pots (ha!) of Faltown. As with all other towns in Cornwall there is quite a bit of hidden poverty and people struggling.

Yes, getting the train to Penryn is a good idea. When you get of the train turn right out of the teeny tiny station, and walk up the hill. Then turn left at the junction by the railway bridge. This takes you down through Penryn town centre and will give you a good feel for the place. At Penryn Bridge at the bottom cross over and go for a cup of coffee and a cake at Miss Peapods www.misspeapod.co.uk/? on the wharf overlooking the river. It gives you a good feel for how the whole of Penryn is!

You can then either walk into Falmouth along the riverside roads, or catch a bus on Penryn bridge.

Pm me if you want any other info

[anythingforaquietnight]

Should add Penryn house prices are still competitive in comparison to Falmouth.

[Ragwort]

I love Falmouth/Penryn - public transport is excellent and loads to do in Falmouth. Like others I think St Austell could be a bit grim. Lively scene in Falmouth now that they have the university and the Gylly beach is just my favourite . Can't wait for our half term holiday ........... in Falmouth .

[Sixtiesqueen]

South bank, I am 40 but my cousin is 37 so would have been in your class. I don't want to out her but her initials were RR and she was originally from up north, moved to Indian Queens aged 6 so would have been new to the school then. Her older brother was PR.

I attended the school from 3-4th year only. I remember mr Bailey really well, lovely man. Also mr Dawson, though he retired so wouldn't have taught you. And the fourth year teacher....mr Herring?

Small world...small village!

[southbank]

Sixtiesqueen-is your cousin called Rachel?!I can still remember so many names despite not seeing these people for nearly 30 years!
I do remember Mr Herring as well yes!
Small world indeed!

[Sixtiesqueen]

Yes, that's her. She left Cornwall a few years ago and came back up north to train as a nurse - she's now qualified.

Gosh you had a bit of a hike to school! There was a girl in my class whose parents had the Blue Anchor pub in Fraddon. I go to Cornwall every year now and drive down the A30 bypass and always want to take a detour off to the village for a poke around but I sort of want to be there alone and I have DH and the children with me. I have to say I found it a dreadful place to live, wonder what it's like now?

We lived on Suncrest Estate (right by the school) - I actually lived with Rachael. I remember her being in Mrs Puttock's class - I remember the school hall was down some stairs...I used to run the tuck shop at morning break when I was in the fourth year juniors. I have undoubtedly served you with a bag of Monster Munch! I'm just remembering the uniform - royal blue jumper!

[southbank]

Lol,my parents had their wedding reception at the Blue Anchor!
We moved closer to Truro when I was 8 or 9 I think,just have very happy memories there but having been back in passing like you thought it did look pretty grim in places.
My mum was a single parent initially and used to walk me to school and back every day,and you are right it was an unbeleivable walk!I can't beleive how hard my mum actually had it living there,to even get to a bus stop would have been at least a 15-20 min walk,I guess with a toddler 30-40 mins.No shops,gp,school,under a 40 min walk.
I remember going to playgroup and majorettes in the Victory Hall,the carnival through the village that started on the rec I think it was called,and walking up the Drang to the main road!
School was lovely wasn't it,I'm sure relatively new as well at the time?

[Sixtiesqueen]

Victory hall! I can't believe you remember that! Nobody knows 'The Drang', I thought I had dreamt it.

This has made me chuckle!

[paddypaws76]

WOW! This is like friends reunited.net now. I love it :)

[southbank]

Lol op,hope we haven't hijacked your thread too much,sorry!
Really enjoying this thread,my own experience of St Austell when I was a child was going shopping with my parents occasionally,mum didn't really like it because the shops weren't as good as Truro!
I remember the old Market building near a pub called The Sun I think,it always had funny organ/accordion style music playing and always smelt of food from the stalls.
Had a friend who lived on Sea Road in Carlyon bay,the house was amazing,I remember being amazed that you could see the sea from EVERY room in the house!
Have you got any more thoughts about where you are hoping to move to op?
Also we

[paddypaws76]

Haha don't worry its fine, nice to see. No one has a bad word to say about falmouth/penryn, We love it, but I can't deny that being on the main train line would make things easier. Being able to get to Truro, Plymouth and up country without having to change trains is tempting. Someone said to me once, is not where you live in cornwall that matters, its that you live in cornwall. I've had loads of good advice on here though, certainly couldn't afford a house on sea road :) If we did decide on St Austell, its not too far to spend a day in Falmouth.

[southbank]

Falmouth is great,if I was going to live in Falmouth or St Austell it would be Falmouth definitely,every time.

[paddypaws76]

Yeah. I like just mooching around the dock area. Remember an october day last year sitting Gylly beach, couldn't see my hand infront of my face, just listening to the fog horns on the ships moored in the bay, very atmospheric. Have to say though, I also have a soft spot for Charlestown, and Par is a great place to walk the dogs. Never been to falmouth in the summer, so don't know how busy the beaches get with uni students etc.