Thetownend.com

In particular the Severn avenue area.

Anyone live in that area? What's it like?

The reason I ask, is that we have had an offer on a house accepted, and we drove around the area and a few cars had been broken into.

What's the shield and dagger like nowadays?

God's waiting room.

Used to live on Severn Avenue, works van was broken into 3 times in a year. The missus car once too. Used to be a nice area but is targeted by young scallies that live in a certain council estate across the field.

Thanks.

When was this? Many house burglaries?

2012-2013. I only recall one genuine house burglary at a neighbours a few doors down, this was when the field was occupied with 'travellers'.

The houses look well built. Is the area safe though? Are people friendly enough?

 I suppose up to ten or so years ago, I used to get a bus out to Severn Avenue, walk up onto the Sevenfields Conservation area, along the side Penhill Copse at the end of The Valley  ;), then on up to the Abbey Stadium and hence on to Blunsdon, and the paths out to Stanton, Hannington etc.

I liked it, although urban, there were plenty of quiet routes, and the Conservation Area a hidden treasure, the Romans had built a place up on the ridge, you could see why.  Then a load of houses roads etc were dumped up there, and it ruined the whole of north Swindon. I tried to see if it was still possible to find something like the old route, but impossible.

I suppose though every cloud has a silver lining and the good denizens of The Valley, must have been made up to get the extra targets on their doorstep.

I lived in Severn avenue, loved it. Superb neighbours. '88 - '98. I regret selling my 3 bed semi to this day. Lived on the even number side going up towards the Whitworth Road end.

The house we have made an offer on is Coln Cresent. So the other end. I think it was a shock see a car which had been broken into over night so close to where we could live.

I know it could happen anywhere, but I want the family to feel safe.

Is anywhere safe these days?

Very true.

Always used to be a decent area.  I wonder how the character of the place will have changed now that it's surrounded on all sides by other suburbs/areas of town.  Used to be very near the edge of town/close to open countryside, but not any more.

I've lived in Okus, Old Town for 2 years now and I've never felt safer. Not that i would but if i went out and realized i hadn't locked the door behind me, i wouldn't be too fussed.

What's your address? Just curious.

Like i said, Not that i would, but IF.

the only dodgy thing i see is FlammableBen walking down Okus Road every now and again.

The Dagger is a bit rough and ready, good fun though.  You've also got the Fox and Hounds not too far away.  Area is pretty decent - lived near it for many years and parents lived in Trent Rd for a while a few years back.

mum lived there for 8 years - no problems at all - nice area

Small world.  My mum and dad live in Coln Crescent and have done since 1972.  I grew up there and aside from 2 years where I lived in Abbey Meads, I stayed in Greenmeadow.  I now live in Seaton Close, which is a little bit further down off Thames Avenue.

It's a really nice family area and is well placed to get to anywhere in Swindon. We've extended our house twice rather than moving, because we like the area so much.  You've got the recreation ground just through the alley off Coln Crescent as well with a play park for the kids.

I've drunk in the Shield and Dagger since I was 16/17 (now 40).  It used to be a very rowdy pub and did have a bit of a reputation for being rough with fairly regular fights breaking out.  That was a long time ago though and it's nothing like that anymore.  We've all grown up now  ;)

My friend lives on Severn Avenue and told me earlier about the vehicle break ins.  I think the culprit has now been arrested.  Things like this are not the norm.

Any questions, please feel free to pm me or my dad.  He posts on here as Ticker45.

Thanks Jo, that is spot on. I think we have made the right decision. The current owners had lived there for 20 odd years as well.

With two young kids we need to make sure it's right, as this will be our 'final' house for them to grow up in.

Does the shield and dagger allow kids in? There are quite a few pubs within walking distance, so all is good.

Thanks again.

Yes, obviously. 99.9% the UK, for starters.

No problem.  Yes it does, they're allowed in the bar or the lounge (which is quieter).  The food in there is nice as well.  The landlady has recently spent quite a bit of money getting a garden area out the front done.

We're also members of Haydon Wick Working Mens Club, which is a bit further down off Thames Avenue.  There's always lots of kids in there and the drink prices are much cheaper.  Also, they show all the football.  The Shield and Dagger doesn't have Sky anymore, but shows some games via something else.

It is the sort of road and area that people settle in.  My mum and dad's next door neighbours moved, didn't settle and then moved back to the house the other side of my mum and dad when it came on the market a few years later!

Not sure how old your children are, but I know the ins and outs of the schools in the area as well.

As joteddedyred said, I have been living here since '71 and there are a few other families that have been here since they were built in '65 which does mean there are some old farts in the road! The houses were Bradley built and all the original internal walls are solid, non of this wood and studding malarky and were well constructed. It is a quiet little cul-de-sac, if it all goes through ok, then welcome to Greenmeadow.

I like that Ticker just referred to his daughter by her username.  :D

Thanks both. Really appreciate the feedback.

Do you have to be recommended to join? I remember going a few years ago.

Could be an option if it is child friendly. Ours are 18 months and 4.

If you go to the fox and hounds you may bump into the lesser spotted stfc gazza

If he's not in the queue for Adele tickets with Leggett.

You'll be fine. It's only dashcams they're after.

I live in Greenmeadow, not all that far from Severn Avenue, and I've always found the whole area to be quiet and a pleasant place to be. I've not experienced any trouble, theft or damage.

I've not been in the Shield and Dagger, but have visited the working men's club and had a decent night. Used to frequent Manor Farm which can get really fucking busy, but the foods decent, it's family friendly and it's close.

You got to watch out for badgers, menacing fuckers the badgers.

Swindon Secondary Schools are proper going down the pan....the levels of GCSE success, have fallen behind the national average...and now bracket Swindon in with the norvern, former mill town ghettos like Bradford, Oldham, Rochdale.....in fact it reads like the Div3 league table.

Tbf Reg, it does look like a northern town.

When was the last time you went up north 4D ? 

It was often said that the old railway town, was like a norvern town planted in the south....hence the Working Men's Clubs, football and dog racing....but sadly no longer.

That's just not true Reg.

http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/group.pl?qtype=GR&f=YuxhhwkWZe&superview=sec&view=&sort=l_schname&ord=asc (http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/group.pl?qtype=GR&f=YuxhhwkWZe&superview=sec&view=&sort=l_schname&ord=asc)

The majority are around the national average, a few lower (the usual suspects), but several way ahead like Lydiard plus the peripherals around the town like Warneford, Ridgeway etc. who usually attract the better teachers and more education focused parents.

I don't know why you feel the need to run Swindon down all the time as though there was some glorious golden age in the past. It's fine, it's the average UK town in so many ways. I like it immensely.

I got all excited that Bradon was top of that list and then realised it was sorted alphabetically.

Further down though, wtf is Wizard Education? Is Hogwarts now under Swindon LEA?

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/14109301.GCSE_results_in_Swindon_continue_to_fall/

Yep, in the past. That's a year out of date.

Citing the adver as a credible source hahahah

I went to Kingston Bagpuize (sp) a few weeks ago.
It's the lanes around the back of a lot of streets that give it a northern feel.

Sadly, it's a fact that standards are dropping based on test scores, of course it's all about averages, and there are schools where they're doing OK, but Gove's replacement, has said 3 years of < 60% means you're a "coasting" school and should trigger some sort of intervention to raise standards.

All of this will be played out in the next few years against a recruitment and retention crisis in key subjects at secondary school and deep cuts in FE.

A lot of schools are becoming MATs, which means they can choose their own curriculum to an extent. This will have a major impact on a students education.

Highly likely I know you if you went Hreod, being the big 40 myself.  All that part of town is quite nice to be honest including both Haydon's and Woodhall.

I don't know about that. I was walking home yesterday and turned onto my road and there were two blokes wrestling on the ground before leaping up and trying to have a boxing match in the middle of the road. A drunk bloke was pleading with them to break it up and hug each other so I guess the UK is pretty safe after all.

I guess that you are back in Bamford then James?

The picket fence?

Fuck. Are you sure? Mention "picket" and Reg will be all over it like a rash  ::)

Has Wizard got anything to do with the building that was formerly The George pub in Eastcott Road? It has some hippy looking pub sign outside now and now looks like a head shop.

That's the one

Ha ha and managed to spell it wrong!


Not anymore.  You just have to download a form from their website and take it in.  They put on quite a few things during the year for kids as well.


It's just fallen into place who you are. Will send you a message  :)

It's quaint  ;)

Indeed, spent many a happy hour on the picket line at Grunwick, when I was living in London....although now the term should be in the "things you don't see much of now" thread.  :(

The Red Lion  used to be "quaint"
Not a lot of love lost between posh Greenmeadow and Moredon back in the day  :)

The Red Lion had a goat didn't it?

Saw one in the bar one Sunday lunchtime.