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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
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| Aug 16 2007, 8:02 AM EDT (current) | Anonymous | 1 photo added, 1 photo deleted |
| Aug 7 2007, 6:38 PM EDT | Steve01 | 24 words added, 4 words deleted |
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In 1659, John Jackson lived at Cottingley Hall and it was described as a 'grange' reflecting it's production of corn but the surrounding countryside was still open territory, much used for common grazing. In 1714, Thoresby researching his book, Ducas Leodiensis came to Beeston and later wrote of Cottingley, "whether this was anciently Cot-Land(s) and so called as belonging to and occupied by the Cotari or Cotmanni, a sort of under-tenant, so called from their Cotes or sheds which with certain parcels of land adjoining were originally assigned them in respect of their services, or from the British 'Coit Wood', I shall not determine though inclined to the latter as well for the plenty of wood with which it is furnished to this day as for the adjoining Shaw or Grove".
Thomas Kitchingman, a wealthy businessman (and twice Lord Mayor of Leeds) bought Cottingley Hall and Beeston Hall in 1715, followed by New Hall from the last Hodgson heiress, Francis who had married William Robinson, Minister of Beeston in 1710.
In 1742, John Wesley, the famous preacher broke a journey to Birstall to stay with a Mr Moore at Cottingley Hall, and Mr Moore's son accompanied John Wesley the next day. It was reported, he knew the locality well and was twice entertained at Cottingley Hall by Mr Moore. He himself recorded in his journal when he last visited the district at over eighty years of age, Cottingley "how willingly could I spend the residue of my busy life in this delightful retirement".
Many Manor Halls, at this time were being converted into smaller chambers and rooms, oak-panelling was replacing bare plaster and floor-boarding used. Orchards and gardens were being laid-out with new imported flowers, bushes and trees.Farming was developing at a fast rate and gentleman farmers were consolidating land into huge fields. New feed and root crops were providing winter feed for animals, which were now being selectively bred to develope our modern-day farm animals (which are twice the size of medieval horses, cows and sheep), the production of beef, leather and wool greatly increased. Beeston was a busy village at this time, it was famous for its 'Beeston Lace' with it's 'wild rose' design, as it was 'Mrs Denton's hats'.
In 1755, the Tollgate Act was passed making the Parish responsible for roads to be constructed and repaired to help the developing woollen industry. A toll was paid to use the road, there was a Beeston toll-bar on Elland Road bordering Holbeck and one at Churwell. Previously, road routes were pitted with mud quagmires which could result in a horse stumbling and throwing it's rider, a pack-horse losing its load and a cart or coach becoming stuck.
With the Enclosure Acts 1750 onwards, common land being used by anybody, came under private ownership, plus many ordinary people could not afford to build walls around their little bit of land according to the new laws. So it was sold to rich farmers and landowners, the poor people's little cottages were pulled down, prices for land and farmstock 'slumped' and these displaced agricultural labourers drifted into the new cloth factories and industry in the nearby towns. Some coal, stone and brick, cloth and leather industy was also begining to develope around Cottingley using the water-power of Millshaw beck.
