NORTH-CLAY Division. Cottham, and Cotes.
Aug. 5. 1674.
These places are the first in the division of Bassetlow Hundred or Wapentak, called the
North Clay, wherein I have not met with so many notes as some readers may expect or desire, though more than most will trouble themselves to go through where
they are not concerned.
In Cotune of the fee of Roger de Busli, one Hardulph before the conquest had a manor which defended itself in publick payments as the Dane-geld and the like, for four
bovats. (fn. 1) The land of it in those times was certified to be sufficient for two plows,
or two car. There afterwards Fulco the man or tenant of Roger de Busli had eight
vill. with four car. (plows or plow lands.) This in king Edward the Confessours
time when a former survey was taken, like that in king William's, was valued, as it was
also then at 16s.
(fn. 2) William, son of Remigius de Ingham, and Maud his wife, and Roger his son,
gave to Herbert, son of Adelard, and to Agnes his wife, and their heirs, all the land
of his fee in Cotes, both within the town and without, to be held of them and their
heirs, by the rent of two marks yearly, which land the said Herbert and Anneis gave
to the abby of Wellebek. (fn. 3) The gift of the land was confirmed by the said William,
son of Remigius, to the brethren of Wellebek: and Richard, son and heir of William,
son of Remigius de Hingham, released the said two marks of rent issuing out of Chotes
yearly to the said abbey.
(fn. 4) The jury, 2 E. 1. found that Robert de Sutton, one of the heirs of the lord
Lexington) who had by that means Warsop, Tuxford, Sulkholme, Allerton, and Eykering;
had also in Cotum eight bovats of land, which with the cottagers then yielded 6l. per
annum, a certain fishing, and a wind mill, in 17 E. 1. (fn. 5) Richard de Sutton his son,
is said to have held of Robert de Markham then dead, (who came of the elder sister of
the lord Lexington) a manor in Cottum of 10l. per annum value. The jury, 22 R. 2.
(fn. 6) said that Reginald de Everingham, chr. and Agnes his wife, (the heir of the family of Lungvilers, and partly of Lexington too) had lands in North Cotum and South Cotum,
in the latter is reckoned eight mess. ten bov. of land, twenty four acres of meadow,
and two fishings. The manor of South Cotum came to the family of Stanhop of Rampton,
as heirs of the said Agnes. (fn. 7)
These hamlets are of the Sok of Oswardbek, and in the parish of South Leverton.—
The priory of St. Mary of Torkesey had a good part in Cotum. There was a free chapel
dedicated to the Holy Trinty.
(fn. 8) The owners of Cothame town in 1612, are said to be Thomas Keyworth, Thomas Munke, John Clarke, John Theaker, William Browne, Richard Cobb, Robert Smith, Thomas Wilson, cottag. Chr. Clark, cott. John Cobb, cott. and John
Chaworth.
[Throsby] Cottham, (North-Clay Division)
Is a very small place with a chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity: it is in the parish of South Leverton. Here is service only once a month. This little place of
worship is maintained by the inhabitants here.