Buckden - a Huntingdonshire Village

16 bought a van, and that was the start of a very successful livestock transport business. It was based at 12 Hunts End (which is now Copes Close): two cottages that were eventually knocked into one and later extended to make a four bedroomed house. With it was a holding formed from four different smallholdings, each purchased when they came on to the market. As the business progressed Mr Cope bought two lorries, both built by Mr Williamson, a coach builder from St Neots. He was also now employing Mr Sid Gilbert, who asked for part-time employment but managed full-time for 30 or more years. Soon Mr Cope’s nephew joined the business and another lorry was bought fromWilliamson’s. Mr Cope was very particular about his lorries, which in the early years were always built with parana pine, stained, lined and varnished. Mostly the timber was collected from English Brothers wood yard at Wisbech. The cabs were grained and sign-written by Mr Albert Hester from Biggleswade, who was still applying his art at the age of 81. Mr Cope also had garages built, together with a fully- equipped workshop and a high pressure washer unit to make sure the lorries were kept clean at all times. The next part of the fleet were built in aluminium so that the lorries were lighter and could carry heavier loads. The sense of pride was retained and with his skills, Albert A new Cope cattle truck Angela Bruce Conservation Area. The Buckden conservation area was designated by Huntingdonshire District Council in 1974, and justified by them in a 1995 Conservation Area Character Statement. The area has to be one that the Local Planning Authority considers to be of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. The Buckden area broadly covers the historic built village. Within the boundaries of this area the planning authority has stronger control over development, whether demolition, new builds or extensions or alterations to existing properties. There is also extra protection for features that enhance the street scene, like open spaces, old walls, and mature trees such as those opposite The Towers. Development outside a Conservation Area, but directly affecting it, must also satisfy strict criteria. A detailed description and justification of the Buckden area may be found in the District Council’s Conservation Area Character Statement (1995). Some of the most important buildings are also considered in Chapter 3: Buckden’s Buildings .