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Anyone from Holmfirth?

2 replies

Lucy12abcd · 21/04/2015 16:58

Any tips on moving to the area, schools etc would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

OP posts:
NearlyHolmfirth · 21/04/2015 23:34

Name changed for this just to avoid outing my address. We moved to Holmfirth as a location that was commutable for Manchester and Leeds when I was expecting DS1 and have owned 6 houses in Holmfirth and HD8 in the years since (he's nearly 20 now).

You really do get a lot of house for your money compared to much of the country. On the other hand we are priced out of moving away unless we downsize. It's easily commutable to Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield plus lots of smaller places - Wakefield, Huddersfield etc. My DH's job is in London and he takes East Coast mainline from Wakefield which is just under 2 hours.

My preference is to live in one of the smaller villages e.g. Hepworth, Holme. Some of the areas with cheaper housing can feel a bit less welcoming to incomers, but typically lots of people from all over have relocated here.

Take into account that you will be snowed in regularly and that lots of little roads aren't cleared for ages when you choose somewhere to live. In our last house we were very inaccessible in the snow and had to leave cars a long walk from the house for prolonged periods when the weather was bad.

Schools wise I can't think of any school with a bad reputation. My sister had a lot of angst in South London over school places but here in complete contrast nearly everyone just goes to their catchment school. My DC went to two different local primary schools both of which I would happily recommend. When they were a bit older (junior school age) they commuted to independent schools. There are two foundations of schools served by school coaches out of Holmfirth. One of the benefits of living here is it's made that option more affordable. However Holmfirth High has an excellent reputation and results. Greenhead College which it feeds for sixth form is always near the top of national league tables and sends phenomenal numbers to Oxbridge.

It's a really friendly place to live. There's quite a lot going on in terms of children's activities. It's also quite arty with an annual art festival and folk festival. It's a nice place to shop for bits and pieces with quite a few decent independent businesses. There's a large co op, a lidl and I think a Sainsburys on the way. There was a successful local campaign to keep Tesco out. Holmfirth is bizarrely quite popular for a night out so quite bustling late at night on a Friday/Saturday. Might be a factor in not buying right in the centre though.

Hard to know what else to say - is there anything more specific you want to know?

Lucy12abcd · 22/04/2015 20:56

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply & for covering so much. You've given us lots to consider. We regularly visit Holmfirth but know it's different once you actually live somewhere. Our main concern is schools really but we've done some research and enquired with school admissions about availability. It's just always very different getting a real person's opinion rather than relying on google & day visits to a place. I'm going to read your reply to my husband now. We've seen a few houses of various sizes & prices but we're going to have a drive and look around again over the weekend. Will consider what you've said about the smaller villages just outside Holmfirth too. We'd read good things about Holmfirth High so it's good you've mentioned this too. We'd need primary school initially so it's good that you can't think of any with a bad reputation. Thank you very much for your help & information!

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