Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

So I have decided not to move to Yeovil - what's the verdict on Taunton?

115 replies

sushistar · 12/03/2010 16:51

Thanks everyone who replied to my last thread asking about yeovil. Taunton is looking like the place for us - so if you live there or nearby, what do you think? Would you reccomend it to a family with toddlers?

OP posts:
morningpaper · 13/03/2010 22:23

there is Stonham and Novas and Taunton Association for the Homeless

squillions of charities though

mrsbaldwin · 13/03/2010 22:34

Well well

I can't help poking my nose into this very fascinating thread ...

... as I was born in Taunton and lived there until I left home.

My mum who lives in Bridgwater but who is visiting me in London this weekend is sitting on the sofa next to me reading everyone's posts with interest, as I type.

She wishes to offer some thoughts, so I will be her conduit ...

Bridgwater:
*if you were moved to move there my mum says IHO the nicest bits are anything to the west of Durley including Nether Stowey and Spaxton, towards Minehead (OrmRenewed - would you agree with this??)
*jobs in Bridgwater - unemployment is so high that Bridgwater Jobcentre is currently taking claims on a Saturday
*Hinkley Point nuclear power station - by 2020 it's very likely there'll be a new reactor at Hinkley. This will doubtless bring some jobs, but upset some of the sorts of people who live in Ilminster (see below)

I left Taunton the minute I got my A level results and nothing on this earth would ever persuade me to move back there (or anywhere else like it) from my spiritual home of North London However if a person were set on moving to Somerset and needed a job etc, I would say Taunton would be a very good place to look (and much better than than Yeovil or Bridgwater).

So that is my two pennorth ...

Original poster
sushistar · 13/03/2010 22:35

thanks morningpaper - will keep an eye on those.

OP posts:
mrsbaldwin · 13/03/2010 22:36

*I deleted what I wrote about Ilminster But left a reference to this deletion in my previous post bymistake to tantalise everyone

Original poster
sushistar · 13/03/2010 22:38

ohh, thanks mrsbaldwin and mrsbaldwins mum! That's another vote for Taunton then...

(sigh) if we could afford a 4 ped house in north london with a big garden we night stay here too! But in terms of not being wage-slaves for ever and ever the west country is the way to go.

Maybe dh could work at Bridgewater jobcentre?

OP posts:
Original poster
sushistar · 13/03/2010 22:38

who are 'the kind of people who live in Ilminster...'?

OP posts:
Original poster
sushistar · 13/03/2010 22:39

having a shower now, back in a tick. I have to clean the bath before I can have a shower because ds did a poop in his bath bless him

OP posts:
mrsbaldwin · 13/03/2010 22:41

Sushistar - if I were your DH and were qualified in that kind of line I would take a punt on giving Bridgwater JobCentre a call to see if they need anyone.

OrmRenewed · 13/03/2010 22:45

You could try on of the villages maybe. I lived in West Monkton as a child - bit small. But Kingston St Mary is nice and busier I think. Or Nether Stowey or Cannington.

Oh and MrsBaldwin's mum - yes I agree!

mrsbaldwin · 13/03/2010 22:51

West Monkton

Fyne Court

Hestercombe House

Vivary Park

[Scenes from MrsBaldwin's childhood float past]

Swimming pool that's 'a bit old now'. As a direct result of reading this thread I have remembered for the first time in about 20 years what I once did with a boy in the car park of the then-slightly newer swimming pool.

QueenofWhatever · 13/03/2010 22:55

Taunton is dull and not much work, many commute to Bristol. The NHS has Musgrove Park and the Strategic Health Authority - the SHA in particular will have significant job cuts so there will be competition for public/voluntary sector jobs.

Wells is lovely and walkable (Taunton is quite sprawling). You're going to have quite a shock with any of these places after London, especially the lack of multicultaralism (sp?). Frome has a mix between rough estates and hippy old town.

These places are all very different - what do you want out of a place to live?

mrsbaldwin · 13/03/2010 23:00

Anyway Sushistar I have to go to bed - but that was an enjoyable bit of reminiscing (from the safety of my N postcode )

OrmRenewed · 13/03/2010 23:02

Hestercombe house was DD's very favourite place for years - she had her 7th birthday party there. I was also brought up there until I was 10 so she and I share a few memories.

Moosy · 13/03/2010 23:44

How about a village on the outskirts? Creech St Michael and Ruishton have good bus links and they've just built a new park and ride on that side of town too.

Or if you want to live a bit further out, our house in North Curry (beyooooootiful village with decent school, shop, pubs...) will be on the market in April!

morningpaper · 14/03/2010 09:36

"good bus links" for a country person means once every hour (seriosly)

I think Taunton is your best bet - yes I agree with MrsB that it is the sort of place you move away from but in terms of basic needs with small children, it ticks most of the boxes IMO, particularly if you are basically a townie who would go mad in a coastal village with no where to buy the Guardian

Buda · 14/03/2010 10:06

Enjoying this thread!!! Hi MP and Orm and other Somerset peeps.

A thought Sushistar - what about renting in Taunton for a while to get a feel for the place and give you a chance to really explore other areas?

Having said that we are moving to Taunton in summer 2011 and have already bought our house! We are currently overseas.

DH was brought up in Somerset and although doesn't have any family or friends there now, reckons it is the only part of UK he can see himself living.

We have bought right on the outskirts of town and I am SO looking forward to being able to walk to lots of places after years of living in places where I have to drive everywhere.

Merle · 14/03/2010 13:20

Buda - where have you bought?

When my children were in pushchairs I lived in a very hilly city. I used to really appreciate the accessability of Taunton when I went to visit my mum.

I think it was good until my late teens, then it became very restricting. There are a lot of people there who live very dull lives, IMO, but think that they are the cat's whiskers. All my pals went away for university, eventually moved back to the SW but to the bigger, more cosmopolitan cities. It was only when mine were little and I was doing the rounds of parks, duck-feeding, coffee shops, that the pros of Taunton became apparent.

Buda · 14/03/2010 16:34

Hi Merle
We have bought northish onway to K-St-M.

Will have a ten year old who will go to Taunton School.

Am quite sure he will leave after he leaves school but depending on what he does we may move to be near him when he eventually settles. Who knows?

morningpaper · 14/03/2010 17:22

Agree with Merle

I don't think we will live here FOREVER but it's perfect for raising children EASILY imo - not fascinating, not a lot diversity or culture but accessible and EASY

Merle · 14/03/2010 18:06

I think it sounds good. I am getting quite into your new life. North of the town is good. A lot of my friends used to cycle to school from there.

thatsnotmymonkey · 14/03/2010 18:39

I live in Ilminster and I really like it having moved here from N.London.
It has a vege organic cafe, an arts centre- with cafe, 2 Indian restaurants, brilliant butchers, chi chi little gift shop and a handful of other shops, a couple of banks and a post office. It has also recently got a smallish Tescos. The first school is amazing as is the pre school and there is a good active children's centre, 2 children's parks and in the school holidays you can rent the 1st schools indoor pool for £10/hour. There are lots of toddler groups and gymboree too.
I work in Taunton and like it very much there too, however the traffic in and out is a night mare!
I think Bridgewater is similar to Ilminster in that there is a real mix of people. The schools in Bridgewater have been historically pretty poor though. The town centre is not great. IMO

mrsbaldwin what did you say about Ilminster

mrsbaldwin · 14/03/2010 21:33

MrsBaldwin had been drinking when she was typing on here last night

Buda · 14/03/2010 21:57

Merle - I am getting into my new life too! Just wish I didn't have to wait till next year for it to start!

We looked at a house in Ilminster but it was too much house and too much hilly garden for us. Ilminster looked nice though.

MrsBaldwin - I did think you may have had a drink or two when you mentioned goings on in cars with boys with you mother there!!

OrmRenewed · 14/03/2010 22:03

Hey buda! I am assuming you will be having a house-warming party next summer

OrmRenewed · 14/03/2010 22:08

This thread reminds me (again) what a dull little mouse I am. I find it quite odd that so many people don't want to put down roots. The 'this is perfect for now' attitude shows an insouciance I envy but also fear. I value the fact that I know this place in my bones - there are places I take my DC that I went to as a child. Places that are part of my fabric. Bits of Somerset are the landscape of my soul. I have always has a strong sense of place. I think I may be a dinosaur in this mind you.