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MID 1600s |
The first record of the
Copas family residing in Cookham, Berkshire was Richard Copus in the
mid-1600s (not a spelling mistake, the name changed around
1850 from Copus to Copas).
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1827 |
The family became licensees
of The Chequers Public House in Cookham.
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1857 |
The first property purchase
- a house called The Grotto, behind the Jolly Farmer in
Cookham.
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1890 |
James Copas started farming
by renting land in Cookham Rise. He also used Grazing Rights on the local
Commons and these Rights continue to be exercised today.
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1901 |
James Copas purchased his first land in Cookham (11 Acres)
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1920 |
The Chequers licence was given up and full time farming
started with a tenancy at Nuttings Farm in Cookham (now
called Cockmarsh and Winter Hill Farm.)
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1931 |
On the death of James Copas,
Copas Bros was formed by his three sons, William, George and
Thomas. At Thomas' bequest their memory is recorded
by the construction of the Lychgate at Cookham Dean Church.
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1940-50s |
By the end of the 1950s
Copas Bros owned 500 acres in Cookham and rented a further 4 acres.
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1967 |
The first land outside Cookham was purchased at Hedsor in
Buckinghamshire (100 acres).
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1968 |
George's son, John, and
Thomas' sons, Tom and Geoffrey, joined Copas Bros.
Sadly John died in 2006.
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1978 |
A fruit farm was purchased
for Pick Your Own - Calves Lane Farm at Iver near Slough.
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1985 |
Purchased Westfield Farm at
Medmenham, between Henley-on-Thames and Marlow.
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1999 |
Purchased Woodlands Farm
near Chesham and increased the landholding in that area by
renting 572 acres at Rossway Park near Berkhamsted in
Hertfordshire. Malpas Farm near Theale was also
purchased.
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2002 |
Old Amersham Farm was
purchased.
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2006 |
Purchased Lys Mill Farm at
Watlington.
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2011 |
Purchased Curridge Farm, near Thatcham. |
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TODAY |
Today Copas Farms
is a modern, diverse business business largely farming land
within a 20-mile radius of Cookham. It is managed by
Geoffrey Copas together with his two sons - James, who lives in Cookham, and Richard, who lives near
Chesham with his wife Charlotte and children Laura and
George. Laura and George are the tenth generation from
Richard Copus referred to above.
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