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 Reverand 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 knops, wreathed and ramped handrail, 2 balusters per tread.'

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

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	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

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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

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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.		Above: 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.		Above: An aerial view of the Cottam buildings.

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This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass	Version B3 Updated 17 December 2007