What's Wisbech like?

[lifechange]

I'm a regular poster who has done a namechange as this isn't something I'm ready to share with the world yet!

Husband and I are potentially looking at moving house to keep the horses at home. We currently live in the South East and can't afford anything around here. A lot of places have been popping up in Lincolnshire sort of area, but I think that's a bit far away.

Another place which I found a lovely looking house in is Wisbech St Mary.

I know nothing about the area so thought I'd ask around on here first before I went to look at anything.

What's the area like? Is it particularly horsey?

 

[ester]

Wisbech town is a bit of a dive.
and generally I find it all a bit bleak up there myself! It took me a while to work out why when I grew up on the somerset levels, but lack of grass, animals, horizon I think.

Friends did the move for similar reasons to yourself but I'm not sure I could.

iirc catembi lives fairly close by now too.

 

[lifechange]

Wisbech town is a bit of a dive.
and generally I find it all a bit bleak up there myself! It took me a while to work out why when I grew up on the somerset levels, but lack of grass, animals, horizon I think.

Friends did the move for similar reasons to yourself but I'm not sure I could.

iirc catembi lives fairly close by now too.

That isn't really selling it to me! (the town being a dive, not Catembi being nearby!)

I haven't been to that part of the world so it's good to get people's views. In-laws are in Suffolk, but we also can't afford anything around there either!

 

[ester]

I stayed with said friends for 3ish months when I first moved from my beautiful part of wiltshire . The traffic on the commute was a nightmare. It was winter but they would also agree that wisbech is a dive. I actually thought it okish but my hometown would also be called a dive by most so not much of a comparator.

I think they are quite happy though, it does mean that they've managed to generate a lifestyle with horses at home that they wouldn't have had otherwise.
Also, their nextdoor neighbours from somerset, are now nextdoor neighbours again so they obviously liked it!

 

[SpringArising]

Wisbech is known for being a craphole, to put it succinctly.

 

[honetpot]

Wisbech could be better, its just at the moment there is no railway station so its a bit out on a limb. Parts are lovely with old houses and some of the villages around offer amazing houses for not alot of money. Once you get used to the fact its is really flat, it grows on you.
Very cheap to live, its carrot land so you will never be short. Loads of Polish shops with every sausage you can think of.The people are great, and a fair few have cashed up from the south and moved there.
Horse wise, there are lots of old droves, and banks to ride along. There are plenty of venues and good teachers, shows and clinics.
I would look from Somersham, Ramsey, Warboys, March( has a station and you can get to Ely-London) Chatteris, Elm, Emneth. You need a car with high clearance, some of the roads are bumpy. I used to be a community nurse and got to know the area well.
Alternatives, there is still good value around Ely, you are just not as far out.
I went to Aylesbury which I thought was a dive, Wisbech may not be smart but it has no pretensions.

 

[ester]

Even just north of Ely is a lot cheaper than south of Ely.

All around the area 1 village further a long can make a massive difference to house prices, but with a similar impact on peak time journey times, I'm glad that earith bridge has not been part of my commute with the closures this year.

 

[Starzaan]

I have to say, when I was an account manager I looked after that area and Wisbech was my least favourite place. I had over 200 accounts spread across three countries. I hated Wisbech. Sorry!

 

[Myloubylou]

Yeah can’t convince other half to move to the fens even for the swankiest house. Very flat and featureless landscape, I like nice views for my hacking! Depending on your budget there are some nice equestrian properties in north Northamptonshire

 

[SpringArising]

I would look from Somersham, Ramsey, Warboys, March( has a station and you can get to Ely-London) Chatteris

It depends on what you're after but all of the above places are pretty much the only places around here I actively avoid when choosing where to live. They're cheap and there's a reason for that...

However, if the house itself and having your own land is more important to you then they're a good bet.

MyLoubyLou hit the nail on the head. The Fens is just miles and miles of... nothing nice.

 

[stormox]

I think one of the worst things about that area (my sister lived there) is the lack of bridleways. Presumably because its mostly reclained land, and doesnt have the same historical routes. She moved 20 or so miles actoss the border into Norfolk and its lovely.

 

[EnduroRider]

My husband grew up in Wisbech, moved to Liverpool for Uni and never went back, there is a reason for that!!

 

[timbobs]

Wrong thread

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’d take that as “have a rethink” op!!
How about Wales?

 

[Fred66]

Sounds like you've gone off Wisbech. It is in the fens and flat as a pancake and is one of those places where I think only the locals can love it (although some of them might also struggle)

Depends where in Wales, its quite big !!

 

[JFTDWS]

When I'm looking at property, "ah it's Wisbech" is shorthand for "cheap for a reason" and "nope, no thanks" ?

 

[Esmae]

The locals call it Wisbekistan. It is a dive. If you want Lincs look at the Lincolnshire Wolds. Pretty country and good value for money. Depending on your budget Sleaford/Grantham area good value and Kings Cross is an hour and 5 mins from Grantham.

 

[lifechange]

Ha, OK I'm definitely put off!

Will have a re-think! It's not an "I'm desperate to move" situation. I always have half an eye on what's out there and Wisbech seemed to tick the boxes of having some nice houses in my price range. Probably a reason for that!

 

[honetpot]

It depends on what you're after but all of the above places are pretty much the only places around here I actively avoid when choosing where to live. They're cheap and there's a reason for that...

However, if the house itself and having your own land is more important to you then they're a good bet.

MyLoubyLou hit the nail on the head. The Fens is just miles and miles of... nothing nice.

I have lived in a far few places over the years, and flat is a shock, but its actually in terms of actual living its better than very pretty rural Rutland, deffinitely easier to find livery. My friend lives in Somersham, its got shops a variety of shops and, a really good feed merchant, outdoor school to rent near by and best of all if you like cake, the home of Tom's cakes. Its about 5 miles from a Waitrose which for me is civilisation.

 

[Teaboy]

I’ve always found the fens pretty bleak particularly Wisbech. If I were looking for value for money and nice surroundings I’d look at wales.

 

[LouisCat]

You couldn't pay me to live on the fens! So bleak and depressing! I'm always make OH drive across the fens, I just hate them!!

 

[Trouper]

.... and the winter wind can come straight from Siberia with nothing to stop it!!

 

[fen tigeress]

Ahh wisbech. Drive around it, thru it but don't stop in it. Best thing about about the area. The A17/605 takes you away from there.

 

[ester]

I have lived in a far few places over the years, and flat is a shock, but its actually in terms of actual living its better than very pretty rural Rutland, deffinitely easier to find livery. My friend lives in Somersham, its got shops a variety of shops and, a really good feed merchant, outdoor school to rent near by and best of all if you like cake, the home of Tom's cakes. Its about 5 miles from a Waitrose which for me is civilisation.

decent physio, and pilates classes too

 

[windand rain]

Bit harsh folks but true The wolds is not quite as cheap but much nicer. A lovely equestrian area with quite a few equestrian venues and classy competitions

 

[catembi]

Late to the party... We were seriously looking at Wisbech & surrounding area, but I am soooooooooo glad that we didn't buy there. The one we were buying in Parsons Drove fell through, thank goodness (bank undervalued) and we ended up in north Beds.

I honestly am grateful every single day that we didn't buy there. I would hate to be stuck out there miles from friends & family, in the midst of all that flatness, & the whole area is quite godforsaken & depressing. We looked at 8 or 9 houses out that way. I was getting v desperate as the original house we were buying (not there) fell through & as I'd sold my equestrian property, the horses were in livery miles away, the dogs were in kennels & it was all very upsetting.

If in any doubt - go and look at some houses & see for yourself. It really would be petrol money well spent.

 

[ester]

Ahh sorry I forgot it fell through, in my head you were in PD but also discovered there wasnt much riding round there?

 

[catembi]

This is what we were going to buy...still on the market & we've been living here for 18 months.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55569081.html

Gorgeous house, all that land...but there! Also - important point - I thought there would be loads of bridleways out that way due to it not being at all built up, but there are virtually none. So before you look at houses - get the map out & see what bridleways are nearby!

 

[ester]

Ah see memory not that terrible

I feel like mentioning the fish and chip bus (which I know) comes a bit across desperate.

 

[honetpot]

Bit harsh folks but true The wolds is not quite as cheap but much nicer. A lovely equestrian area with quite a few equestrian venues and classy competitions

Sadly I am of an age and state of health that where you get hospital treatment is really top of my list. I do complain, that is my nature but where I live in catchment of two large specialist centres.