Cambridgeshire 
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Nearby Places
Nearby churches
"COTTENHAM is a large village and parish, 4 miles north from the Histon station on the St. Ives and Cambridge branch of the Great Eastern railway, 2-and-a-half miles south-west from Oakington station on the same line and 6-and-a-half north from Cambridge, in the Western division of the county, hundred and union of Chesterton, petty sessional division and county court district of Cambridge, rural deanery of North Stowe and archdeaconry and diocese of Ely. The principal street is lighted with gas from works the property of the Cottenham Gas Co. Limited. "
"This was the birthplace of Thomas Tenison, archbishop of Canterbury, 1694-1715. The soil is various; subsoil, loamy clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats and beans, fruit and vegetable produce. The area is 7,224 acres; rateable value, £10,495; the population in 1891 was 2,517."
[Kellys Directory of Cambridgeshire 1900]
The Monumental Inscriptions for All Saints churchyard, 1658-1986, are recorded in the Cambridge Records Office. These inscriptions are also available on microfiche from the Cambridgeshire Family History Society Bookstall. There are also records held for the Dissenters cemetery 1837-1989 which are also held at Huntingdon Record Office.
The Census Records from 1841-1891 can be found in the Cambridge Record Office. In addition the 1851 Census for Cottenham is available in full transcript form, on microfiche, from the Cambridgeshire Family History Society Bookstall.
"The church of All Saints is an edifice of stone and rubble in the Decorated and Perpendicular styles consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, north and south porches and lofty tower with four pinnacles containing a clock and 6 bells: the chancel is Perpendicular, and has richly carved sedilia and a piscina: the east window is a copy from one in Prior Crauden's chapel at Ely: the nave arcades are Early Decorated, and part of the tower is also of this perios: there are two memorial windows and an oak chest bound with iron: in 1867 the church was partially restored and fitted with oak benches, enriched with carvings reproducing the forms of the plants, ferns and flowers of the district: there are 500 sittings. The register dates from the year 1572."
[Kelly's Directory - 1900]
Cottenham, All Saints: Records of baptisms 1572-1725, 1813-1993, marriages 1573-1724, 1754-2003, burials 1582-1725, 1813-1990 and banns 1754-1999 reside in the Cambridge Record Office. The Bishop's Transcripts for the years 1599-1835 can be found in the Cambridge University Library and photocopies 1792-1812 can be found in the Cambridge Record Office. Indexed transcripts exist in the Cambridge Record Office for baptisms 1653-1812, marriages 1653-1792 and burials 1640-1792 with an additional index transcript of marriages 1573-1837.
Old Baptist Meeting: Records exist for births 1789-1803 with index transcripts of these for the years 1798-1803.
Cottenham Wesleyan Methodist Church: Records exist for baptisms 1871-1916 although this church became part of the Cottenham Wesleyan Circuit in 1876.
Wesleyan Methodist Church: Records exist for the Cottenham Wesleyan Circuit of which Cottenham is part.
Wesleyan Methodist Church: Records exist for the Cambridge Wesleyan Circuit of which Cottenham was for some time a part.
"The "Cottenham Philo-Union," a species of village club, opened in February, 1881, is well supplied with the daily and weekly papers, and has a coffee and reading room. The recreation ground, on which a handsome pavilion has been erected, can be flooded in case of severe frost and used for skating. The road from Belsar's Hills to Aldreth High bridge, which was the old British road out of the Isle of Ely, runs along the corner of the parish. The ancient Carr Dyke traverses the fens, and close to it, on the boudary next to Landbeach, many remains of Roman pottery have been found, and in 1855 a beautiful bronze bust was discovered on this site. This village was formerly noted for the superior quality of its cheese, produced here some years ago in large quantities, but latterly the extensive pastures have been converted into arable land. The fruit gardens are extensive and increasing and hundreds of tons of fruit are sent during the season to London, Manchester and other markets. There are six manors-viz. Crowlands, Lyles, Sames, Burdley or Harlston, Rectory manor and Pelhams. The representatives of the late Dr. Thomas Musgrave, Archbishop of York 1848-60, are lords of the manors of Crolands, Lyles and Sames; Christs's Colledge, Cambridge, of Burdley or Harlston, and the rector, of Rectory manor; the greater part of the land in the parish has been enfranchised."
[Kelly's Directory - 1900]
The Cottenham War Memorial has been transcribed and researched.
Land Tax: records were compiled afresh each year and contain the names of owners and occupiers in each parish, but usually there is no address or place name. These records reside in the Cambridge Record Office for the years 1798 (on microfilm), 1829-32, 1845 and 1880-1948.
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[Last updated 16 August 2005 Martin Edwards]