Buckden - a Huntingdonshire Village

BUCKDEN IN THE TURNPIKE ERA 202 The Turnpike Era helped to cut the journey from London to Edinburgh from ten days in 1754 to a mere four in 1776. It also helped to stimulate business at local inns, including those at Buckden. The Turnpike Trust improved conditions for travellers, as the Hon. J. Byng noted in his Bedfordshire Tour in 1794: ‘[This road] betwixt Biggleswade and Buckden [...] As a road of fine gravel it is unequalled [...] a road of unusual populousness, fertility - and pleasing views. Ten villages, or hamlets, are passed through in 16 miles!! [...] at every mile a good public house may be enter’d in case of storms, or hunger [...] The George at Buckden is also excellent.’’ 1 (quoted in Houfe, 1990) The map on the right (detail from Hinch/11/103; Huntingdonshire Archives) shows the route of the Biggleswade to Alconbury turnpike road through Buckden c. 1853. It shows the branches to Huntingdon and through the Offords, as well as the two toll-gates in the area. The main route covers 23 miles 3 furlongs 3 perches and 9 yards. The distance of the Buckden to Huntingdon branch is given as 3 miles 3 furlongs 20 perches and 0 yards. Coaching at Buckden The 1830 Pigot’s Trade Directory states that there are ‘almost hourly coaches through Buckden’. Mrs Rosa Young, ( St Neots History Society Newsletter 69 ) in her research on Huntingdon Stagecoaches, uncovered information about coaches at Buckden from the Robson’s Directory of 1839: BOSTON MAIL calls at Spread Eagle and George ¼ before 12 noon, returns 2pm LEEDS ROCKINGHAM calls at the George at 1 in the morning, returns 12 at night. LEEDS UNION calls at the Spread Eagle at ½ past nine, returns at 1 in the morning. LINCOLN MAIL calls at the George at 12 at night, returns at 2 in the morning. YORK EXPRESS calls at the George at ½ past 3 am, returns at 3 in the afternoon. YORK HIGHFLYER calls at the Spread Eagle at ¼ past 8, returns ¼ before 5. ‘In addition coaches from the North pass through Buckden almost hourly.’ Mrs Young also notes that the London to Glasgow ROYAL MAIL; London to York ROYAL EXPRESS; London to Barton on Humber ROYAL MAIL; London to Barton on Humber ‘EXPRESS’; London to Boston ‘PERSEVERANCE’ & ‘EXPRESS’; London to Lincoln ‘EXPRESS’ and the London to Stamford ‘REAGENT’ were coaches that passed through Buckden. The improvement of roads and trade provided work for local carriers to move goods in the area. The 1847 Kelly’s Directory records local Buckden carriers as Henry Creamer (Huntingdon Wednesday/Saturday; St Neots Thursday) and John Riseley (St Ives Monday; St Neots Thursday & Huntingdon Saturday). Toll-gates and milestones The original edition of the OS map of the Buckden area (1834-35) shows no toll-gates in the parish of Buckden. The nearest are at Southoe, together with the 58 milestone, and at the top of Paxton Hill by the Toseland road. It would seem that going to St Neots involved paying a toll but a trip to Huntingdon did not. The 60 milestone is marked near to the Stirtloe turn and the 61 near to where Silver Street joined the A1. In the present day, there is no milestone near the Stirtloe turn, but there is one on the A1 just south of Silver Street. Its distance figure starts with a 6, but the second numeral is no longer legible. It may in fact be the 1 Byng would have noted these improvements with particular satisfaction: his uncle, Pattee Byng, had been one of the founding trustees of the Biggleswade-Alconbury turnpike.