Date Added: 19/05/2008
Updated: 20080525182214
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There are a series of 'Essays' available in Cottingham library by A.H.Stamp, and other history books, which offer a valuable insight into days gone by. It has to be said, however, that from time to time, it is possible to see a more comical side to events of the past. This page represents a lighter look at events in the village, but please remember.... they really happened.


Electric Traffic Lights


'The coming of the electric traffic light did much to reduce congestion and road accidents. The first in Britain were fitted in the village of Cottingham, near Hull, in 1931' from Motor Mania by Richard Sutton. Pub: Collins and Brown Ltd 1996. ISBN 185585 260 8 (Special edition for Past Times - ISBN 185585270 5 - which includes a picture on page 154) - Thanks to Diana Sandy for this snippet.    In 1892 the landlord of the Duke of York public house was fined �2.00 (plus costs) for allowing a game of darts on his premises.
 
Cottingham valued at less than 10 quid!

In 1086, the manor of Cottingham was valued at £7. Basically, for the price of a large Pizza with extra topping and a can of coke, you could have bought the village.
  
On the hazards of fire...


When Cottingham Castle caught fire at 11.00pm on 2nd May 1861, there must have been a bit of a panic. After failing to put it out quickly, a messenger was sent (by horse presumably) to Hull to fetch the Fire Brigade, who arrived at about 2.30am. Unfortunately, when they did arrive ready to start work, there was no water. Not surprisingly, the whole castle burnt down.
 
Horse Alarm!


Things hadn't improved much by 1867, when Mr Gibson of Inglemire Farm had to gallop to Hull because three of his hayricks were ablaze. You can guess the rest. Burned to a cinder by the time the Brigade were half way up Beverley Road.

Have you got a stamp? I need the fire brigade!


By 1883, things seem to have got a little better. Ivy Lodge caught fire and a telegram was sent to Hull for the Fire Brigade. This arrived within half an hour, and as luck would have it, there was a pond 300 yards away to supply water. The fire was soon out, and the building was still standing. It was uninhabitable though

Can it get any worse?


Well in 1886, the granary at Keldgate Farm was ablaze. A message was sent to Hull, but apparently the police refused to send the engine. A messenger was sent to Beverley to get theirs, but by the time it arrived the fire had been burning for 5 hours. Not much left.

What no water?

Obviously tired of this dependency, in 1887 the "Cottingham Volunteer Fire Brigade" was formed. Rather sadly, I think, one of the first call-outs was in August, in the middle of a drought. Although the fire concerned caused little damage, the Fire Brigade could do nothing anyway; since all the dykes and ditches were empty. I have a mental picture of half a dozen guys stood around like lemons in their bright shiny new uniforms.

On Saturday, 21 October 1893, rather seriously, the Beverley Guardian published this:
'We have received a letter signed 'Observer' relating to the Cottingham Fire Brigade, which, although much to the point, contains personal references of such a character as to oblige us to withhold its insertion.'
Probably from someone laughing at their shiny uniforms.

Drunk in charge of a horse, Ney Lad!
 
In July 1895, William Atkinson was fined 5 shillings for being drunk in charge of a horse.
 
Rock & Rollit

Dr Rollit, of Thwaite Hall, sounds like he was the man to know at the end of the nineteenth century. He was President of the Pomological Society (Fruit and Fruit Trees, apparently), and held a meeting at the Hall in 1882. In 1883, he hosted a meeting for the Model Yacht Club, and in 1884 (by which time he was Mayor of Hull, of course!!), he entertained members of Hull Corporation at the Hall with the band of the King's Own Light Infantry (105th Reg).
 
Tunnels under Cottingham - fact or fiction?

There are rumours that Cottingham has a subterranean world, with a series of tunnels beneath it. There is some truth in this. At the corner of Eppleworth Road and Castle Hill, there existed a chalk quarry, developed by Thomas Thompson in the early 1800's. The tunnels were formed as part of the excavations.

Beg your Parson!

The sundial, which can be seen above the shop front at 140 Hallgate, used to be an integral part of St Mary's Church. It is thought to have been removed when the parson took up temporary residence at 140 Hallgate.

Absent fathers! 

In 1825, a reward of two guineas was offered by Cottingham's Overseers of the Poor Committee for information leading to the return of one Phillip Stevenson. He had run away, presumably to Leeds, leaving a wife and four children to be maintained by the village.
 
Bahmy Laws!

On 11th October 1603, Widow Thompson of Northgate was fined for washing her sheep at the Beck Bridge.
   
Curate & the Cannibals

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Cottingham had a Curate called Hopkins. He took up missionary work in the Melanesian Islands, where he was promptly killed and eaten by the locals.