Buckden Neighbourhood Watch Update
Please see the updated page under the Community section. The organisation’s survival is dependent upon the maintenance of its team of Members and replacements for those who leave are always needed. Please contact any member of the committee if you believe you can help.
Coming soon…. Crime Reports and Crime Prevention Advice!!!!
Buckden Village Festival
| This year the Buckden Village Festival will be on between Friday July 5th and Sunday July 7th.There are lots of events going on around the village on all three days, including a fashion show, a fete, a sports day and much more. For more details please go to www.buckdenvillagefestival.co.uk |
Stalls & Clubs
We are finalising stalls for clubs & societies so if you have not let us know yet and want to take part please send an email to buckdenvillagefestival@gmail.com
Volunteers
We are looking for people to help on the day. If you could spare a couple of hours to help set up in the morning or during the fete in the afternoon please email or call Philip Miles on 01480 810027.
Please support our local businesses and use the Buckden Business Directory - for more details please go to the ‘Business Directory’ page. You can use the Business Directory and find out about ‘Buckden 4 Business‘ – a village initiative to increase the awareness of our local community of businesses.
For those of you who are visiting us from the World Wide Web please accept our greetings and enjoy your stay. The village of Buckden has a thriving community of nearly three thousand people and is situated approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of London between the market towns of Huntingdon and St. Neots. Its most famous landmark, Buckden Towers, is documented in the Domesday Book and lists as visitors Henry III, Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII and Samuel Pepys. For more information please visit our history page.
Hello,
I found your wonderful web site only a few days ago.
After reading the letters I felt that I had to send the following reply to that of Mr Tim Bowtell. Of course I have no idea if he will ever see it but having been delighted to see so much about Bucken I simply had to send some of my happy memories.
Asunto: Reply to Mr. Tim Bowtell
Hello Mr Bowtell, what a road of nostagia discovering this website has become.
My father, Percy James Bruce, was employed by your grandfather in the shop until World war 2. My parents lived in Nutfield Cottage in the grounds of Nutfield, Perry Road. I was born in 1944 while my father was in a sanatorium having treatment for T.B.contracted during his military service. Somewhere I have a little book entitled “Welcome Home” which your grandfather gave him. I don’t remember your grandfather but I have a few fleeting memories of your grandmother. I remember that she came to find out why I was crying in my cot while my mother was doing some cleaning in the main house. Then, oh dear! I was very little when I took a dish of food to your grandparents’ dog called Gyp (Jip)! Somehow I spread the black Spaniel’s poo about! My mother told me on several occasions that after my arrival your grandfather hoped that he wouldn’t see nappies hanging out to dry on Sundays. My mother assured him that it wouldn’t happen and she remained “no washing on Sundays” until her death at nearly 92. I remember the gardener, Mr Hill, who had a hunch back upon which he carried me to accompany him to the greenhouses. I believe that I played with Wendy Bowtell, could she be your daughter?
When I was about five or six yrs.old my mother and I went to live in Kent to be reunited with my father. At that point my dear aunt Elsie Gale moved into Nutfield Cottage with her husband, Harry, who was an invalid from the first world war. I visited very often and have such happy memories of the times spent there. Although I can vouch for the honesty of my adult relatives I have to admit that I carried a few red currants away in my tummy when we went for walks in the orchards, having entered them by the small gate at the end of the very attractive garden of the cottage.
In later years I remember an employee called Claud Whitney who later married the housekeeper Miss Flowerdew,
After the death of Harry Gale my aunt went to live near my parents. So my visits to Nutfield Cottage of which I have a photo or two ended but happy memories remain.
Ann Elizabeth Lawson ( née Bruce).
Another from me in reply to Annette in her search for members of the Gale family.
Subject: Reply to Buckden website.
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:47:20 +0000
Hello Annette,
I have had so many beautiful memories awakened after finding the Buckden website.
In your letter I see that your Father’s ancestors came from Buckden. I’m sorry I don’t know if any Gales are still living there but my aunt Elsie (née Atkins of Diddington) and Harry Gale, the son of a policeman, married probably before the 1930s (no descendants of the marriage). For many years they lived in a cottage called The Nest (now long demolished) next to a farm owned by Mrs. North whose jackdaw liked to attack the buttons on my little shoes.
When I was young I visited Uncle Harry’s two sisters who lived together in a house not far from and on the opposite side of the road of the the Lion Hotel. I think one was called Annie. I found those spinster ladies to be rather formidable but kindly. If Harry belonged to your family the only things I am able to tell you is that he was an invalid of the first world war. As a child I found him rather stern but just and with a heart full of love which, due to his disabillity, he had difficulty in expressing. His words, which meant little to me in my youth, have since given me great strength as life has given me their understanding . What a wise and inspiring gentleman.
If he is one of your ancestors I appreciate having had his care in my early life. He died, as far as I recall, in the mid 1960s, possibly before he was 70yrs of age and his grave is in Buckden cemetery.
I’m sorry that I don’t know more about the Gale family but I sincerely hope that you find your answers.
Best wishes in your search,
Anna.
Hi, Im not sure if this has any connection with the gales you mention but i knew a Ken Gale who lived two doors from me in lincoln close, buckden. His brother Bill lived next door till he moved to a nursing home last year, Kens wife betty and son alan still reside in the street.
i have only lived in the village these past 8 years so dont know a great deal of history but feel blessed to call this lovely village my home.
Hi Julie,
Thank you so much for posting your message.
The Gale’s are indeed a part of my family. I managed to make conntact with Phil Gale and his family who live in Silver Street, but sadly I have not met any other members of the family.
When you speak to Betty and Allan would you pass on my kind regards. I would love them to know about our very large family tree and that my branch stems from Alfred Gale who moved to Leed and then Ticknall in Derbyshire.
On my one visit to Buckden I also thought it would be a lovely place to live.
Kind regards.
Annette
Hi Annette,
My name is Trudi, I live in Lincoln Close. I used to live at number 19 (Im now across the road).
I dont know how much you have found out about the Gales since you last looked on here but as Tracy said Ken lived next door to us, his wife and son still live there. Bill lived next to them and on the other side of us was Roger another brother. There is also Richard Gale and Jenny Gale (now Horrocks I believe) and Stella (Haynes).
Sadly Roger, Ken and Stella have passed away. But the others are still living in Buckden – when I was little (1980s) it was said if you werent related to Gales or Baxters then you werent from Buckden.
Hope you have found out about your family, I am tracing mine through Ancestry.co.uk and found my dads family were born and raised here is the late 1700s. We dont like to travel
Regards Trudi
Dear Anna,
Thank you so much for your lovely message about the Gale’s of Buckden.
It is so nice to hear first hand information and stories about people, as it helps to bring them to life in our imagination.
I hope you don’t mind, but I have a few of quieres and wonder if you might help me with them?
Firstly, I have managed to find living Gale’s still in the village which has been very exciting for me.
My husband Robert and I have visited with them and also, taken a stroll through the Buckden Cemetery. I have a picture of Harry’s grave. He died 25th March 1969, so a little later than you thought. I also found out that Harry’s brother, George Henry died in France 1919. How sad it must have been for their parents. They had nine children, seven girls and the two boys.
It was very interesting to hear that Harry had been injured during WW1. I’m now looking for further information on the WW1 web-site.
I found a marriage entry for Harry and Elsie in 1926. If you have any information about the marrage or photographs, then I would be really greatful.
Also, you mentioned visiting Harry’s two sisters and the fact that they were both spinsters. In my family tree I have Alice married to a William Cornell 28th July 1915, St Mary’s Church, Buckden. There could have been another Alice Gale, but I think this information is correct. Any ideas? Could the other sister have been called Isabell as she is the only sister that I don’t have a marriage for?
Kind regards.
Annette
my family were the landlords of the lion inn roughly 1900 the family name was macleod my grandfather was also coachman for lord haddington
The Valley water level.
There are a few possible reasons for the water level in The Valley (as we old Buckden people know it)
1) This summer has been a very dry one and ground water levels / tables are very low.
2) With the dry summer also there is evaporation to consider.
3) Could the ‘inlet’ which came from the ditch to the west of The Valley be blocked or overgrown? Not that it will make much difference if there has been no rainfall.
The ditch in question is in fact the one which runs through the spinney. (This is private property there is no public right of way through there, or never was)
I believe that the low water levels are due to the lack of rain and the subequent low water tables in the area . As a fisherman I know that many lakes and indeed the river at Offord are also at a low and the river has suffered badly this year due to lack of flow, there has been virtually no flow over the weirs at Offord car park pool all summer. The Valley lake, as far as I know, has never been known to dry up, and does support a head of fish, mostly Tench, I do remember a lot of Sticklebacks many years ago but I haven’t seen any for years now. The Lake is very low in Oxygen , Tench are one of the few species of fish which can survive a low Oxygen content . This is mainly due to the Ton or so of leaves which are deposited in the lake to rot every year.
Some years back there was a proposal, from a keen fisherman, to look after the valley with a view to stocking the lake and getting a fishing club set up. The main idea was to get children interested and perhaps give them something to do on a weekend, all supervised.
He went to great lengths and spoke with Anglian Water who, if memory seves me right, were interested in helping out and offered stocks of fish. It would have been a big undertaking and sadly it got a big NO from the trust who thought it was dangerous to have chidren close to water and the ‘may drown’ In the 56 years I have lived in the village only 1 person I can recall drowned in this lake and she comitted suicide!!!
The work involved now would be vast as the banks of the lake are sadly very neglected and overgown and the rushes are taking over one end. The end in question was unfortunatly ‘filled in’ when the hall was extended and all the spoil was dumped around the lake instead of being carted away!
So in short there could have been a managed lake providing a village interest and all we have now is an overgown ‘mess’
In 2007 I and several others undertook an unofficial survey of the Valley Lake with regard to improving the water quality and creating an attractive environment for a possible Fishery.
The lake is approximately 190 m x 32 m .
We went out on a boat and checked the depth,
we found it was between 2 and 4 feet deep with a further 1 to 2 feet of silt in places , beneficial plant life was almost non existent , no oxygen giving plants , no waterlillys .
I contacted the Environment Agency at Brampton for advice and they sent out a Technical Officer from their Fisheries and Biodiversity team to meet me at the lake for a look around .
I later received a letter from him confirming that the lake would make an ideal small fishery
providing that the water quality was improved.
This basically involved treating the Silt deposits
to reduce their depth and allow it to become more fertile and support plant life . This would have the effect of creating more insect life and in it’s turn more Bird life and the ability to support a reasonable head of suitable Fish in the Lake.
He considered that about 20 places for anglers could be created by careful management of the
Tree’s , Bushes and Brambles . He made me aware of the Countryside rights of way act which protects and respects Bird life and Bats.
The Agency would be happy to undertake a free Fish population survey and advise us of how best to stock the Lake with fish . They advise a stocking level of about 500 lbs of fish and advise that suitable species to stock would be Roach , Rudd , Perch , Tench , Bream and Crucian Carp.
We briefly discussed costs , the Silt problem would be about £200 , Stocking £1000 plus ,
I know another fishery owner who would supply suitable types of waterlillys for re-planting .
For various reasons and as far as I know , this survey was not presented to the Village Trust.
I understand that the Trust would be happy to discuss any suitable proposals for the Valley Lake were it to come from a group who can present them with a suitable proposal .
Anyone out there up for a challenge ?????
After further investigation it is recorded that in December 2001 , members of the Buckden Parish Council took note of a proposal to the Village Hall Trust for a Fishery to be created in the Valley Lake . After a long discussion it was felt that it would not be in the best interests of the Village or the Valley environment.
This would seem to indicate that it was the Parish Council and not the VHT who turned down the proposal , shame really when you consider what we have now and the fact that it would have brought some much needed income to the VHT.
I was aware of the Valley fishery ‘proposal’ and was under the impression that it did get presented to the trust! They threw out the idea of people fishing in the valley due to various reasons one of which was fear of kids drowning! Surely that risk is there anyway? I think it was proposed that a fishing club was created and children who were interested in fishing were supervised and encouraged in the pastime.
There are fish in the valley now, some reasonable tench from memory! Why not take up the offer of help and advice and create somewhere for the kids to have a go at fishing!
I moved to the area in February 2012 to take up a senior managerial appointment at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. I have been staying in a short term let in Great Staughton which I need to vacate at the end of April. I like Buckden very much and have been attending St Mary’s Church. A member of the congregation suggested I post my details on the website as I am looking for accomodation from May onwards. Would prefer self contained accommodation but would consider house share. I am a single, mature professional male and can provide excellent references. Many thanks Chris Davison. My contact details are 01480 845762 (work) or 07967 380424 (mobile)
Hi Jan,
I’ve removed your message as you requested.
Best regards,
Martin.
Years ago it was my habit to drive up the old A1 from Harrow Middlesex to take my wife, and children to visit her mother Ruby James, the Licensee of ‘The Globe’ Pub in St. Neots. It was there that I met and was befriended by Bill and Margie Smith, two of the kindest, friendliest people I ever knew, the real salt of the earth, who were out visiting St. Neots with friends. I would then drive on the few miles up the A1 to Bugden where the old A1 still ran through the centre of the village right past the pub door.
Bill had lost an eye playing Robin Hood as a child in the grounds of Bugden Palace though he still seemed to be able to see more than I could with two.
They lived in a ‘hovel’ attached to the back end of ‘The Spread Eagle’ pub, the right hand side as you face it, past the small gift shop ‘Rings and Things’ which was at one time sited on the corner Bill was a farm worker and was reputed by some to be the cher in all Huntingdonshire. Many were the happy hours I spent with him, hunting down the pests, the local Crows and Pigeons then afterwards, back to the Spread Eagle for a pint or two. They were moved out of their ‘one up one down’ behind the Spreadeagle some time later and were rehoused in Lincoln Close on a local estate with their dog ‘Smudger’ and where Bill in particular was not very happy. Then Margie passed away and Bill followed shortly thereafter, both a sad loss to the world at large which is in dire need of decent people.
John Blundell
3 June 2012 – On revisiting the Buckden Village site today I noticed two things in particular. One was a strange few missing letters in my text of 25 May 2012 which I hasten to correct herewith…. ” Bill was a LOCAL farm worker and was reputed by some to be the BEST POAcher in all Huntingdonshire”….
The second thing I would like to add is that having now read the articles of the previous correspondents above, of which I had not been previously aware, the location Lincoln Close leapt out of the page for me as that is the address to which Bill and Margie Smith and their dog ‘Smudger’ had moved from ‘The Spread Eagle’. In fact, as noted on Margie Smith’s slip of paper which I still have, their address is written as 6 Lincoln Close, Bugden ! Even after they moved, I would drive up to visit two good friends as often as my business would allow and I have just recalled that on one of my visits, the man with the Fish and Chip van stopped outside the house and we then enjoyed a good lunch, and the village barber would call occasionally to give Bill a ‘short back and sides’ ! They were such happy times for me, Bill having taken me under his wing to conduct me over the farm on which he worked to hunt pests which I, as a Townie born and bred, could not otherwise do. It is my wish that my few comments may add a just little something to the ambience of the village of Bugden which will always have a special place in my heart.
John Blundell
Hi John, I notice your friends lived in Lincoln Close. I grew up at number 19 (1978-onwards) and now live at number 10. I was talking to Mrs Patrick from no.5 a couple of days ago and trying to remember who lived here orginally. Could you tell me what years your friends were in the street.
I remember nearly everyone from when I was little but, not no. 6
The house they lived at behind the Spread, was it the green one set back from the rest of the street? (I believe it used to be a shop a while back)
I am tracing my family tree and my 4x great grandad was born in the high street but Im not sure which house yet as I cant find exact address (was 1861 so not sure anyone will remember haha)
Regards Trudi
I have lived in 6 Lincoln Close since February 2006. I know some of the history of the house, but would be really happy to find out more, particularly about Bill and Margie. They sound so lovely. If anyone has a photograph I would pay expenses for a copy to be sent to me, as I can’t seem to track them down online. Thank you. This is a fascinating thread, thank you all.
I have just found your website.My father Peter William Richardson BEM was brought up in Buckden by his great aunt Louissa Storey and his great uncle Albert Storey who i beleive was a master painter and decorator. My father worked in a flour mill before joining the Royal Navy in 1939 as a boy seaman aged 15 years old. I would be very gratefull if anybody in Buckden who still remembers him or knows anything of his family history could contact me please. He passed away in 1981 aged 58 years old.
Does anyone remember Auntie Lou and her sweet shop I was a Glasgow girl aged 9 in 1952 and was on holiday with my family Jean and Jack Dudley and old grampa beside the majors house and I knew the people in The Towers I loved Buckden and have very fond memories I have been back Jean and Jack moved to Silver Street.
Hi! We lived at 30 High street from 1969 to 1972. Daddy was stationed at Alconbury. I went to Buckden School – so many happy memories! My best friend Cathy Brown, visitn my friend Patty in Buckden Towers when she lived there! Ballet class in the Towers too! My best memory would have to be the long walks in Buckden Woods and collecting conkers!!! Where did it go? Love and miss Buckden! Really hope to come back and visit someday!
I’ve just got back from taking my grandchildren to the valley lake to feed the ducks and found 2 dead fish by the pallet. They were both Tench of about 3 to 4 lbs .
They probably died from a combination of cold weather and the poor quality low oxygen water in the lake.
Does anybody care ???
Thanks for the heads up. Could you let me know what version of IE you are using please – the site looks fine in my version.
Thanks,
Martin.