Couples Who Have Crossed The Great Divide: South To North
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.IRIS HODGSON, 53, and her partner Paul Loveland, 51, moved to Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, when their employer, the Department of Health, relocated to Leeds eight years ago. They traded in Ms Hodgson's pounds 40,000, one-bedroom flat in Walthamstow, east London, and Mr Loveland's pounds 50,000, two-bedroom flat in Brixton, south London, for a pounds 126,000, five- bedroom, three-storey Edwardian house. Both are born-and-bred Londoner.s
Ms Hodgson, a civil servant, and Mr Loveland, a manager, settled into their new lifestyle quickly, and the North-South divide is a myth, as far as Ms Hodgson is concerned. "Harrogate is a wealthy part of North Yorkshire," she said. "I can't say I've noticed any difference in cost when we go for a meal, and a pint costs the same."
There is one disadvantage. "There is a definite difference in temperature up here," she said. "It's much colder. But we don't intend to go back to London. We like what we get from living in the North, which really surprises us."
Walthamstow/Brixton, 1992
House: one/two-bedroom flat Cost: pounds 350/month mortgage
Combined gross monthly earnings: pounds 45,000
Food: pounds 400 per month
Electricity: pounds 60 per month
Telephone: pounds 20 per month
Council tax: pounds 100 per month
Combined water: pounds 20 per month
Pension: N/A
Car: Ford Fiesta and BMW
Monthly outgoings: pounds 950
Local amenities: Theatres and art galleries in central London.
Harrogate,1999
House: five-bedroom
Cost: pounds 550/month mortgage
Combined gross monthly earnings: pounds 5,833
Food: pounds 600 per month
Electricity: pounds 30 per month
Telephone: pounds 25 per month
Council tax: pounds 75 per month
Water: pounds 30 per
month
Pension: N/A
Car: Ford Focus
Monthly outgoings: pounds 1,310
Local amenities: French and seafood restaurants. Open grassland.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments