Currently looking at buying in West Thamesmead, came across a beautiful modern looking flat there by the river.
I'd heard horrendous things about Thamesmead (not just on this thread, but very few people have good things to say) - but I'm struggling to see what makes it so bad, especially in West Thamesmead.
Has anyone lived in that part of town before?
I know a lot of regeneration is planned and the reason I looked there is because it's one of the few places under 300k that you can get near the new Crossrail coming into Woolwich.
West Thamesmead is fine, I have family who live there and dont have any problems. I think Thamesmead gets a bad rep but a lot of that is based on the old bit Tavey Bridge area around Southmere lake.
I cant offer an opinion on Thamesmead but I have done quite a lot of the green chain walk through it and coming out on to the river and walk back to Woolwich. In the summer that would be an excellent walk home. Ive done all that river path a few times. Is it right on the river front then?
I knew the lady, a Mrs Vera Argent, who won a competition in the Kentish Independent to name the proposed new development on the old Plumstead Marshes and which was to become Thamesmead, which she derived from Thames Meadow.
I knew the lady, a Mrs Vera Argent, who won a competition in the Kentish Independent to name the proposed new development on the old Plumstead Marshes and which was to become Thamesmead, which she derived from Thames Meadow.
I knew the lady, a Mrs Vera Argent, who won a competition in the Kentish Independent to name the proposed new development on the old Plumstead Marshes and which was to become Thamesmead, which she derived from Thames Meadow.
Has she got a son or grandson called Lee?
Not sure, she must have passed away by now I would think, her husband was Len and his brother was called Bill if that helps.
I cant offer an opinion on Thamesmead but I have done quite a lot of the green chain walk through it and coming out on to the river and walk back to Woolwich. In the summer that would be an excellent walk home. Ive done all that river path a few times. Is it right on the river front then?
The one overlooking The Valley was going great until it became apparent that a lot of major mortgage lenders were skeptical of providing something for it because it was above a certain height, ex council etc. I could have got it if I wanted to but was advised against it - which was the right thing.
The place I've had an offer accepted on in West Thamesmead is right on the river front, on the Thames path. Not anywhere near the main town centre of Thamesmead, but closer to the Arsenal.
I’m living in North Thamesmead at the moment, right on the river. Touch wood, the place is ok. Downsides - it’s a bit out of the way and I take my life in my hands when I drive further than 50 yards.
I lived in Thamesmead for 22 years, just where the old Boiler House used to be. When we first moved in, our car was targeted several times but glad to say that wasn't happening over the last 10 years or so.
My main gripes about living in Thamesmead are;
Lack of public transport - Thamesmead needs the DLR or even better, the tube. There are no direct links to London unless you jump on an overcrowded bus and go to Abbey Wood station.
London City Airport - Thamesmead is on the flight path of airplanes landing and taking off from the airport. It wasn't too bad when we moved there in 1994 but the flights have become increasingly more frequent and the noise goes on later into the night. There has never been any consultation with Thamesmead residents about the extra flights and subsequent extra noise.
It's built on reclaimed flood plains - This means that the ground is very soft. Two of my neighbours had to demolish their brick built porches because of subsidence. Even we regretted paving over our small back garden as a lot of the slabs just sank and made it uneven. The houses though are built on concrete floats and I didn't experience any problems with my house and neither did anyone else I knew in Thamesmead.
Motorbikes - There are quite a few undesirables that love to ride around the parks and streets on noisy motorbikes. But that can happen anywhere I suppose.
Rubbish - I don't think I have ever lived anywhere that likes to fly tip so much. This is one of the main reasons that we moved as, in my old street in particular, people thought nothing of dumping old cookers and sofas on the side of the road. It became a real eyesore.
However, there are many positives about Thamesmead including the schools and the parks and open spaces.
Our family moved into Thamesmead stage 1 in summer 1970, just after our house had been built. I grew up in Council houses and at the time this one felt like the creme de la creme. Built on 3 floors, with 4 bedrooms, 2 toilets, built-in garage, garden and warm-air central heating. I loved it's award winning futuristic design and it's open spaces (my Dad stumbled into them filming A Clockwork Orange by Southmere Lake). By the time I moved out in 1983 it had already begun to feel like a shithole. There was only one problem with Thamesmead. People.
Our family moved into Thamesmead stage 1 in summer 1970, just after our house had been built. I grew up in Council houses and at the time this one felt like the creme de la creme. Built on 3 floors, with 4 bedrooms, 2 toilets, built-in garage, garden and warm-air central heating. I loved it's award winning futuristic design and it's open spaces (my Dad stumbled into them filming A Clockwork Orange by Southmere Lake). By the time I moved out in 1983 it had already begun to feel like a shithole. There was only one problem with Thamesmead. People.
Think that's true of a lot of area - depends on the people who live there rather than the buildings.
My main gripe though with a lot of buildings is the lack of thought given to long term maintenance. Architects and developers give this little consideration.
Some blocks can be a nightmare because of the lack of plans re pipework etc and the poor design.
When I was at school in the early 80's my best mate lived in Thamesmead (nr Stage 1 as Tavey Bridge rings a bell) & I spent a lot of time walking around there. Always looked a bit rough & tatty around the edges but I never saw or got into any trouble. I often used to walk home on a sat night......I lived the Dartford end of Bexley & it took me over an hour - along to Belvedere station, up the hill into the village & then back down again towards b'heath, then once at the clocktower head down Gravel Hill into Bexley & then along Dartford rd & home. Lovely.
Near where I live is a beautiful riverside walk through isolated fields. Earlier this year a pair of magnificent large swans nested and raised three signets. I walk my dog there several times a month and it has been a real pleasure stopping and resting my legs for a while whilst watching them develop and thrive. The water there is often very slow running and about 50 feet wide and on several occasions I have seen them take off for a few hundred yards just above the water and then suddenly plough in all at the same time.......the water churns up like a depth charge has gone off, they let out loud squalls to add to the display. I don’t know why they do it but it appears to be purely for fun. After a minute or two of excitement and thrashing around they settle down, the water goes still again and the calm and silence returns. The sound of their wings thrashing as they pass by is amazing. As you get older the simple things in life become so much more important. Swans are truly majestic and noble creatures.......we are very lucky to have them.
Have you ever done martial arts Tom? or perhaps been in the scrum at rugby? I only ask as for about 5 years I used the 244 to visit an old peoples home at Gallions view.
These are prerequisite skills that will come in very useful. It is also where I learned what the kissing of the teeth means.
I get the 244 in the other direction but I always walk back a stop to get on before the station as its slightly less stressful getting on outside the station.
Lived in thamesmead for 5 years until jan of this year, lived by the old boiler house, nice enough if you are single, but not the area I would want to raise my kids in
Moved around a bit but grew up in Thamesmead. Lived just off Yarnton Way for 3 years and then 10 years in West Thamesmead. Went to school at Riverside Secondary (think it's a business academy now?). Used to spend my lunch breaks wandering around tavy bridge. It was rough then and by the sounds of it, not much has changed. West Thamesmead was much nicer but i was glad to get out.
Moved around a bit but grew up in Thamesmead. Lived just off Yarnton Way for 3 years and then 10 years in West Thamesmead. Went to school at Riverside Secondary (think it's a business academy now?). Used to spend my lunch breaks wandering around tavy bridge. It was rough then and by the sounds of it, not much has changed. West Thamesmead was much nicer but i was glad to get out.
That's it - my mate lived in Marigold way. Spent my teenage years hanging around there & walking over the bridge to the ruins of the Abbey. happy days !!
Comments
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42335595
Still heartbroken over the one overlooking the Charlton stadium that fell through!
I cant offer an opinion on Thamesmead but I have done quite a lot of the green chain walk through it and coming out on to the river and walk back to Woolwich. In the summer that would be an excellent walk home. Ive done all that river path a few times. Is it right on the river front then?
https://www.peabody.org.uk/thamesmead
The place I've had an offer accepted on in West Thamesmead is right on the river front, on the Thames path. Not anywhere near the main town centre of Thamesmead, but closer to the Arsenal.
Touch wood, the place is ok. Downsides - it’s a bit out of the way and I take my life in my hands when I drive further than 50 yards.
My main gripes about living in Thamesmead are;
Lack of public transport - Thamesmead needs the DLR or even better, the tube. There are no direct links to London unless you jump on an overcrowded bus and go to Abbey Wood station.
London City Airport - Thamesmead is on the flight path of airplanes landing and taking off from the airport. It wasn't too bad when we moved there in 1994 but the flights have become increasingly more frequent and the noise goes on later into the night. There has never been any consultation with Thamesmead residents about the extra flights and subsequent extra noise.
It's built on reclaimed flood plains - This means that the ground is very soft. Two of my neighbours had to demolish their brick built porches because of subsidence. Even we regretted paving over our small back garden as a lot of the slabs just sank and made it uneven. The houses though are built on concrete floats and I didn't experience any problems with my house and neither did anyone else I knew in Thamesmead.
Motorbikes - There are quite a few undesirables that love to ride around the parks and streets on noisy motorbikes. But that can happen anywhere I suppose.
Rubbish - I don't think I have ever lived anywhere that likes to fly tip so much. This is one of the main reasons that we moved as, in my old street in particular, people thought nothing of dumping old cookers and sofas on the side of the road. It became a real eyesore.
However, there are many positives about Thamesmead including the schools and the parks and open spaces.
I grew up in Council houses and at the time this one felt like the creme de la creme.
Built on 3 floors, with 4 bedrooms, 2 toilets, built-in garage, garden and warm-air central heating.
I loved it's award winning futuristic design and it's open spaces (my Dad stumbled into them filming A Clockwork Orange by Southmere Lake).
By the time I moved out in 1983 it had already begun to feel like a shithole.
There was only one problem with Thamesmead. People.
My main gripe though with a lot of buildings is the lack of thought given to long term maintenance. Architects and developers give this little consideration.
Some blocks can be a nightmare because of the lack of plans re pipework etc and the poor design.
Earlier this year a pair of magnificent large swans nested and raised three signets.
I walk my dog there several times a month and it has been a real pleasure stopping and resting my legs for a while whilst watching them develop and thrive.
The water there is often very slow running and about 50 feet wide and on several occasions I have seen them take off for a few hundred yards just above the water and then suddenly plough in all at the same time.......the water churns up like a depth charge has gone off, they let out loud squalls to add to the display.
I don’t know why they do it but it appears to be purely for fun. After a minute or two of excitement and thrashing around they settle down, the water goes still again and the calm and silence returns. The sound of their wings thrashing as they pass by is amazing.
As you get older the simple things in life become so much more important.
Swans are truly majestic and noble creatures.......we are very lucky to have them.
I only ask as for about 5 years I used the 244 to visit an old peoples home at Gallions view.
These are prerequisite skills that will come in very useful. It is also where I learned what the kissing of the teeth means.
Good to know that West Thamesmead is slightly better than the rest of the town, as that's where Im going to be if all goes through as planned.
Hopefully the area can continue to improve with the planned regeneration/crossrail coming in.