In early 2005 Messers Ullyott & Butler, estate agents of Driffield, put the remains of the Cottam Estate for sale as a whole or in lots by private treaty. The prospectus gives a glimpse of the house and farm of Thomas Crompton.

Bulmers 1892 History and Directory of East Yorkshire describes Cottam as follows:

'... a township and chapelry in the parish of (Langtoft) containing 2586 acres situated two miles south-west of Langtoft and five miles north-by-west of Driffield. The land is divided into three farms and belongs chiefly to the Reverend RH Flood, Sir John Gibbon the Earl of Londesborough and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners who own about 850 acres of warren and are the lords of the manor. ... The chapel is a small plain edifice of brick consisting of chancel, knave with turret containing one bell ...'

During 1959 the late Arthur Mason purchased Cottam House and since then his family have owned and farmed the property. In 2005, the tenant partnership created in 1978, decided to sell:

• Lot 1 - Cottam House, with 12.437 acres and vacant possession, with a guide price of £300,000;
• Lot 2 - Cottam House Farm, with 495.854 acres, with a guide price of £700,000;}
• Lot 3 - 73.984 acres of agricultural land, with a guide price of £100,000.            } subject to current tenancy.

Cottam House

Cottam House is a Grade II Listed Building, which is described in the listings as:

'Farmhouse. Late C18 with later additions and alterations. Pinkish-brown brick in Flemish bond to front facade, with red brick and ashlar dressing and pantile roof. 3 storeys, 5 bays with 2-storeys, single-bay range to either side. Double-range plan central hallway. Central entrance a part-glazed door with overlight within plastered doorcase. 4-pane sashes to ground and first floor except to right range and first floor of left range with casement windows; to third floor are six-pane sashes. All windows under flat arches of red rubbed bricks with ashlar sills. Main block has two modillion eaves cornices, ranges have steeped eves of red brick. Shaped kneelers to some gable ends, ashlar coping, end stacks with cornices. Interior Shutters to front rooms. Some 6-fielded-panel doors. Rod-on-vase dogleg staircase with square knobs, wreathed and ramped handrail, 2 balusters pertread.'

The principle accommodation is arranged on three floors with two side wings providing accommodation on the ground and first floor only. The total floor area is 663m². The accommodation is in need of refurbishing and therefore, perhaps, gives a glimpse of what it may have been like in Thomas' day.

Cottam House Details - Front Elevation

Click on the door or windows for details.	Above: Cottam House, winter 2004-5

1805info3e, sheet 2

Cottam House Details - Rear Elevation

	Above: The back of Cottam House in 2005 Clicking on the door, a window, the wall will give further details.

The house details create an image of Cottam's past.

• The rear garden, now grass, was formerly the vegetable garden and tennis court.
• The front, west facing lawn, is protected by a ha ha, which keeps out the animals without spoiling the view.
• Even in 2005 the attic servant quarters had no electricity or heating, other than the open fires.
• Accommodation for servants, either domestic or farm, may have featured at the back of the house where there was a 'rear' kitchen, hall, sitting room and staircase.
• The ' concealed void' from Attic Bedroom 3 to Bedroom 6, on the floor blow, suggests stairs connecting the Nannies bedroom to the nursery.
• The two 'wing' bedrooms only have access to the central landing through an intermediary bedroom. Perhaps, as in some Tudor houses, the 'master bedroom' controlled the night movement of children.

Cottam House's old stable block, used by Thomas Crompton's horses, comprised of: the stables; the old Tack Room; an old Saddle Room; the former coach house, now a drive through garage; with steeps to the Granary. To the left a long, low building contains an eight pen Service House and a seven crate Farrowing House. Right: Cottam House stable block

1805info3e, sheet 3

Cottam Farm House

The present estate, comprising of 371.822 acres of arable and 124.032 acres of grassland and dale, is now run from Cottam Farm House, with a tenancy for life and with succession right. The Farm House is a detached, west-facing building, which was refurbished circa 1982 comprises of:

	Above: The front of Cottam Farm House in 2005 Clicking on the door or a window will give further details.

• Snug (back right)
• Cloakroom (back centre) with fitted with WC and wash hand basin.
• Utility Room (back left) with built-in cupboards including one housing the oil central heating boiler.
• Bedroom 2 (back right centre), 9'6" x 7'7", with built-in units.
• Bedroom 3 (back centre), 15'5" x 9'11" [maximum].
• Family Bathroom (back left) Fitted with panelled bath, pedestal wash hand basin, WC and airing cupboard with immersion heater.

Cottam's Ancient Monuments
The maps below show the extent of the abandoned Cottam Medieval Settlement and Cultivation Terraces, which are scheduled as an ancient monument, suggesting that the land has been in occupation for many centuries. The ruins of Holy Trinity Church, which are not part of the estate, are similarly restricted. Right: Cottam Church, circa 2004

1805info3e, sheet 4

Maps and aerial views locating Cottam and showing the estate

Above: Plan of the Cottam Estate, 2005. Click on the plan to open an A4 image. Right: An aerial view of the Cottam Estate with the 2005 sale boundaries marked.

Above: Plan of the Cottam buildings, 2005. Click on the plan to open an A4 image. Right: An aerial view of the Cottam buildings.

1805info3e, sheet 5

Above: Map showing position of Cottam House

1805info3e, sheet 6

The Valuation Survey 1910-15 'was made for tax administration following the 1910 budget. They show the use and value of lands and buildings in Edwardian England and Wales. ... [It was] aimed to ensuring that private landowners should pay part of the increase in land values that was attributable not to their own labour and efforts for improvements but to expenditure by the State - for example the provision of improved roads, drainage and other public services. ... The 1910 Act provided for the levying of a number of duties on land, the principal one being called increment value duty. This was levied at the rate of 20% on any increase in the site value of land between the time of its initial valuation as at 30 April 1909 and the occasion of its sale or other transfer.' ... Many land owners won legal challenges the Act until it 'was repealed by the Finance Act 1920. The valuation survey had cost two million pounds, not a fraction of which was recovered.' Source: Beech and Mitchell, 'Maps for Family and Local History', The National Archives, Kew, 2004, page 36.

Site Valuations appear to be calculated by multiplying a sum of money, at 1910 prices by a period of 25 years ie the actual rent and the tithe.

Above: Cottam House Farm from the 1910 Valuation Survey Source: The National Archives (TNA) IR 134/5/121 and 122 based on the 1888 25" survey

1805info3e, sheet 7

Thomas moved into Cottam after the census of April 1911. The Valuation Survey gives an indication of the farm Thomas took over. This is the first of four pages from the valuation book for a survey taken after 06 April 1911. It summarises the ownership and expenditures It is interesting to note: For the Valuation Survey GT Butterworth rented the freehold land, at an undisclosed rent, from the Trustees of GF Rolson on a yearly agreement. The property is described as 'farm house, buildings & lands & four cottages'. The gross value of the property was at £3842, being £2850 for things growing on the land plus £800 for the structures shown on the map above and the £192 tithe. An annual tithe of £131 7 shillings and 0 pence (£131.35) was still collected. An additional expense of a land tax of £2/14/6 (£2.725) was recorded. The gross annual value was £436. Right: Cottam Home Farm 1910 Valuation Survey, page 1 Click on the image to open an A4 size portrait image at 500kB on a new page. To print scale to 38%. Source for all four pages: The National Archives (TNA) ref: IR 58/73810/4 Field Book for Cottam

1805info3e, sheet 8

This is the second of four pages from the valuation book, which summarises the gross taxable value over a period of 25 years. It is interesting to note: The farm house (building A on the plan) was described as a brick and tile building in good repair. with three reception rooms, two kitchens, a dairy, store and cellar on the ground floor. On the second floor were seven bedrooms and a bathroom. There were four attic rooms. Externally there was a coal house and earth closet. In the earth closet soil or ash from the fire was placed over the faeces to reduce odours, and periodically dug out. The expenditures affecting the market value were: Vicarial tithe £30/19/9 (£30.99) and an Appropriator tithe of £61/5/10 (£61.29); repairs of £55/0/10?; and the Land tax of £2/14/6 (£2.725) totalling £150. The annual value of the property was assessed at £576 plus sporting rights of £24 less the expenditure. The sum of £450 was multiplied by 27 years to calculate the market value of £12 000. The market value of the 877 acres, 3 roods and 1 perch (~877 acres or 356 hectares) was £8000. The buildings were valued at £3100, timber at £50 and other things growing on the land £850, suggesting a diverse farm. The gross value open market of the site, free of any encumbrances, was assessed at £13 937. Right: Cottam Home Farm 1910 Valuation Survey, page 2 Click on the image to open an A4 size portrait image at 70kB on a new page. To print scale to 38%.

Source for all four pages: TNA ref: Ir58/73810/4 Field Book for Cottam Note: 1 rood is a unit of area equal to 0.25 acre (0.1012 hectares). 1 perch is a unit of area equal to one square rod or 5.5 square yards or 5.03m2.

1805info3e, sheet 9

Right: The buildings on the Cottam House Valuation Map 1910 This plan should be read in conjunction with page three of the Valuation Survey which are listed as: B - Cow house and store; C - Loose box and loft over; D - 4 x ride horse stable, coach house with granary over; E - Fold yard, a six bay shed and two boxes; F - Cart horse stable for 24 and two chaff houses; G - 10 bay waggon shed; H & J - Fold yard sheds; K - Barn, cake house, mill house with granary over; L - 9 x loose boxes M - not listed N - 7 bay implement shed and two poultry houses

O - 7 bay fold yard shed P - 5 bay fold yard shed and slaughter house Q - 5 bay fold yard shed R - Machine shop S - A Hinds (a northern word for labourer) house in good repair comprising of three living rooms, two dairies, five bedrooms, coal house, earth closet and stick house. The list also details: T - Blacksmiths, joiners shop X - Two cottages adjacent to Hugh Road. Each contain a living room and scullery, bedrooms, coal house and earth closet. Y - A low barn, shelter shed and box in bad condition. The farm buildings were generally brick, with slate or tile roofed. The third of four pages from the valuation book also details the 22 field sizes. There were: two fields in the region of 100 acres (40.5 hectares); four fields in the region of 60 acres (25 hectares); two fields in the region of 50 acres (20 hectares); three fields in the region of 30 acres (12 hectares); one field was 12 acres (4.9 hectares); four fields were less than 10 acres (4 hectares); three fields were in less than 1 acre (0.4 hectares).

1805info3e, sheet 10

This is the fourth of four pages from the valuation book, which summarises the taxable value. It is interesting to note: The Gross Value of the farm was £13 937. The values of the structures was £4000 The Full Site value was £9937 £1 957 was deducted from the Gross Value to give a Total Value of £12 000. The value of the structures was deducted from the Total Value to give ... ... an Assessable Value was £8000. The sporting rights were valued at £648 (shooting and hunting?). Right: Cottam Home Farm 1910 Valuation Survey, page 4 Click on the image to open an A4 size portrait image at 520kB on a new page. To print scale to 38%. Source for all four pages: TNA ref: Ir58/73810/4 Field Book for Cottam

Cottam Farm in 1911

Family sources record that it was Thomas' ambition to retire at 50. Just after the 1911 census the family move to Cottam as 'a way to expand the business and that proved a wise move'. Judging by the Valuation Survey Cottam was a valuable farm, which may have helped his ambition.

• At 877 acres and with a 100 acre field it was the largest of Thomas' farms by far: the total of the Nafferton farms was 354 acres.
• With a Gross Value of £13 937 of highest value, being twice that of Westfield.
• The seven bed roomed house with a bathroom and four attic rooms was the most sumptuous family home.
• The house had, as a mark of its 19th century grandeur, its own coach house.
• With stabling for 24 cart horses, sheds for 10 waggons and five labourers working with horses it was an arable farm heavily dependant on its own horses.
• But it was a self-sufficient farm with machine, blacksmiths and joiners shops and was moving in to the 20th century with an implement shed, perhaps containing a reaper-binder that was invented in 1872.
• The estate cottages for employees included one for a game keeper, despite the lowest sporting assessment.

1805info3e, sheet 11

The Valuation Survey records that the tenant was GF `Butterworth, and it is the same person who appears in the 1911 census.

1911 Census:      Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source:   TNA Ref:        RG14 PN 28880
          Reg. Gen. Ref:  RG78 PN 1661  En.Dist: 2 Sched: 3
          RegDist: Driffield SubDist: Langtoft
Dwelling: Cottam House Near Driffield             
Place:    Cottam, Yorkshire East Riding              
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 17
Years married: -          
Children:      - Alive , dead none 

Name                        Rel Mar Age  Occupation                   Status  Birthplace 
George Thomas Butterworth  Head Wid 58   Farmer                       Employ  Yorks. Hull  
Nora Malvena Jefferson      Dau Wid 31                                        London  
George Percy Butterworth    Son  S  30   Farmers Son Working On Farm  Worker  Yorks, Hull  
Charles Edwin Butterworth   Son  S  28   Farmers Son Working On Farm  Worker  Yorks, Hull
Thel Maud Butterworth       Dau  S  27                                        Yorks, Hull
Herbert Norman Butterworth  Son  S  22   Farmers Son Working On Farm  Worker  Yorks, Hull

The Valuation Survey lists the properties associated with Cottam House Farm some of which can be identified in the census Enumerators walking book. The following properties were on the Cottam estate. Consequently, Thomas may have inherited the people living in these houses as his workers. However, as Foreman Danby had migrated around several farms so too could workers move-on. The Cottam estate provided accommodation for eleven workers.

1911 Census:      Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source:   TNA Ref:        RG14 PN 28880
          Reg. Gen. Ref:  

RG78 PN 1661  En.Dist: 2 Sched: 4
          RegDist: Driffield SubDist: Langtoft
Dwelling: Hinds House [1]             
Place:    Cottam, Yorkshire East Riding              
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 7
Years married: 13         
Children:      Alive 7, dead 2 

Name                     Rel  Mar  Age  Occupation        Status  Birthplace 
Bentley Danby            Head  M   38   Farm Foreman      Worker  Yorks, Ulrome   
Lucy Danby               Wife  M   39                             Yorks, Rudston   
Lillie Danby             Dau   F   11                             Yorks, Kilham   
Olive Danby              Dau   F    9                             Yorks, Hunmanby Grange   
Joseph Bentley Danby     Son   M    8                             Yorks, Hunmanby Grange   
Harry Danby              Son   M    6                             Yorks, Field House Hunmanby   
Emily Edith Danby        Dau   F    3                             Yorks, North Dale   
Elsie May Danby          Dau   F    2                             Yorks, Kilham   
Vera Danby               Dau   F   11mn                           Yorks, Kilham   
Florence Lindall         Serv  S   16                             Yorks, Rudston   
Charles Albert Coverdale       S   21   Waggoner On Farm  Worker  Yorks, Langtoft   
Herbert Coverdale              S   19   Horseman On Farm  Worker  Yorks, Langtoft   
William Moment                 S   18   Horseman On Farm  Worker  Yorks, Foxholes   
John Myers                     S   17   Horseman On Farm  Worker  Yorks, Langtoft   
Sydney Coverdale               S   14   Horseman On Farm  Worker  Yorks, Langtoft 
Richard Wiles                  S   21   Labourer on Farm  Worker  Yorks, Langtoft

1805info3e, sheet 12

1911 Census:      Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source:   TNA Ref:        RG14 PN 28880
          Reg. Gen. Ref:  RG78 PN 1661  En.Dist: 2 Sched: 5
          RegDist: Driffield SubDist: Langtoft
Dwelling: Hinds House [2]             
Place:    Cottam, Yorkshire East Riding              
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 8
Years married: 1         
Children:      Alive none, dead none 

Name             Rel   Mar  Age  Occupation    Status  Birthplace 
John Morris      Head   M   25   Farm foreman  Worker  Yorks, Foxton  
Emma Morris      Wife   M   30                         Yorks, Duggleby  
Mabel Mattick    S-dau      11   School                Yorks, Duggleby  
Ivy Mattick      S-dau      10   School                Yorks, Duggleby  
Wilfred Mattick  S-son       6                         Yorks, Duggleby  
Sarah Wilson     M-i-l Wid  60                         Yorks, Duggleby  
Olive Elvidge    Serv       14                         Yorks, Langtoft  
Tom Totter       Serv   S   19                 Worker  Yorks, Driffield  
Ben Watson       Serv   S   17                 Worker  Yorks, Driffield  
William Simpson  Serv   S   15                 Worker  Yorks, Frodingham

1911 Census:      Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source:   TNA Ref:        RG14 PN 28880
          Reg. Gen. Ref:  RG78 PN 1661  En.Dist: 2 Sched: 6
          RegDist: Driffield SubDist: Langtoft
Dwelling: Keepers Cottages [1]             
Place:    Cottam, Yorkshire East Riding              
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 5
Years married: 2         
Children:      Alive 1, dead none 

Name               Rel  Mar  Age  Occupation     Status  Birthplace 
James Thompson    Head   M   25   Farm Labourer  Worker  Yorks, North Frodingham
Clara Thompson    Wife   M   25                          Yorks, Naburn
William Thompson  Son         0                          Yorks, North Frodingham

1911 Census:      Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source:   TNA Ref:        RG14 PN 28880
          Reg. Gen. Ref:  RG78 PN 1661  En.Dist: 2 Sched: 7
          RegDist: Driffield SubDist: Langtoft
Dwelling: Keepers Cottages [2]             
Place:    Cottam, Yorkshire East Riding              
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 5
Years married: 11
Children:      Alive 3, dead 2 

Name             Rel  Mar  Age  Occupation     Status  Birthplace 
Charles Myhill  Head   M   36   Farm Labourer  Worker  Wrentham 
Margaret Myhill Wife   M   31                          Yorks, Langtoft 
Thomas Myhill    Son        8                          Yorks, Langtoft 
Sarah Myhill     Dau        3                          Yorks, Langtoft 
Cyril Myhill     Son       11mn                        Yorks, Cottam

1805info3e, sheet 13

1911 Census:      Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source:   TNA Ref:        RG14 PN 28880
          Reg. Gen. Ref:  RG78 PN 1661  En.Dist: 2 Sched: 8
          RegDist: Driffield SubDist: Langtoft
Dwelling: Keepers Cottages [3]             
Place:    Cottam, Yorkshire East Riding               
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 8
Years married: 7         
Children:      Alive 4, dead none 

Name             Rel  Mar  Age  Occupation   Status  Birthplace 
Gordon Miller   Head   M   38   Game Keeper  Worker  Killarney, Muckrose 
Isabell Miller  Wife   M   30                        Durham, Consett
James Miller    Son         5                        Yorks, Cottam
Gordon Miller   Son         3                        Yorks, Cottam
Violet Miller   Dau         2                        Yorks, Cottam
Austin Miller   Son         2mn                      Yorks, Cottam

1911 Census:      Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source:   TNA Ref:        RG14 PN 28880
          Reg. Gen. Ref:  RG78 PN 1661  En.Dist: 2 Sched: 9
          RegDist: Driffield SubDist: Langtoft
Dwelling: Strait Piece             
Place:    Cottam, Yorkshire East Riding
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 3
Years married: 3         
Children:      Alive 1, dead none 

Name                Rel  Mar  Age  Occupation     Status  Birthplace 
Charles Wadsworth  Head   M   30   Farm Labourer  Worker  Yorks, Dalton Holme
Mary Wadsworth     Wife   M   32                          Yorks, Cottam
Sydney Wadsworth   Son         1                          Yorks, Cottam

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass			Version B7 Updated 30 September 2024