In the Minister's accounts at the Holy Trinity Priory, York for 1537, it is recorded a tithe or corn tax 'from the sheaves of Kyrk Byston cum Cottingley in the Parish of Ledes, there in the tenure of Agnes Blayds - widow'.

In 1556, it is recorded that Adam de Clapham lived at Cottingley Hall. Thoresby in his Ducatus Leodiensis 1714 writes of Cottingley, 'I shall add that the Claphams of Bethmesley, an ancient family of J. Clapham, a famous soldier in the wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster and Sir Sheffield Clapham, Kt. Major-General of the Army, sent by (King) James I onto Stoad, who was born in this Parish (u) where his father Gresham Clapham Esq. resided many years in the reign of Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603)'.


It was in 1609, that Christopher Hodgson and his wife, Isabel Currer came to Beeston, they were descendants of the De Lacy family. They bought Stanks Farm, the name 'Stanks' derives from the abundance of stagnant water which once stood below the farm and built a fine sandstone hall called New Hall. In 1613, it came into the possession of Christopher Hodgson by 'deed of gift from Thomas Norcliffe esq. with other estates in Middleton of Henry Gascoign and Alexander Gourdon. In the same year, Francis Norcliffe, heir of Thomas Norcliffe, late of Nunnington, deceased, grants to Thomas, his brother ... land called tenter garths in Beeston, Cottingley, Churwell and Morley and whatsoever lands Thomas Norcliffe the father purchased of Ralph Beystone in the Parish of Batley and an annuity of £6 13s 4d purchased of Christopher Hodgson and Isabel, his wife.

A new wing of brick was added to Cottingley Hall in 1616 by Christopher Hodgson who prospered and was soon to be made an alderman and town dignitary of Leeds.

The second son (also Christopher) lived at Cottingley and with his wife, Elizabeth had four children, one being John, a Royalist in the Roundheads & Cavaliers Civil War. There were several short attacks on Leeds by Royalist Armies loyal to King Charles I. In 1643, the royalist gentleman was in trouble with the Parlimentarian authorities in Leeds, for 'he did absent himself from his usual place of abode and fled into the enemies garrison and lived there during the sieges of York and Pomfret (Pontefract) and before that sent a man and horse into the King's Armye .... Fine £590.'

The Hodgson's family loyalty could well have been divided because at New Hall, a chapel attached to Stanks tithe barn took the name of Major Greathead, a Gildersome-born soldier in Cromwell's Parlimentarian Army. Later involvement in the Farnley Wood Plot in 1663, brought about Major Greathead's disgrace, as well as that of the Royalist John Hodgson.