These are just a few of personalities who have lived in Cottingley at one time or another.

ASOLF Adam, son of Peter Asolf or Fitz Asolf in 1160 gave Cottingelaia to Henry WALES and his heirs, with all appurtenances, in plain, in wood, in meadows and feedings, and in waters. The original deed, in Latin, with the seal of Henry Wales (Waleys, Wallis) is the oldest document held in the West Yorkshire archives at Bradford.

BARKAS Sam (1909 – 1989) Licensee of the Sun Inn in the 1950s. Footballer who played 5 games for England, including 2 friendlies. Captained England on 3 occasions. Played club football for Bradford City and Manchester City and managed Workington and Wigan Athletic.

BAYLES Bryan – Merchant, bought the Cottingley Manor in 1566 from the Franke family. Died 1579.

BRIGGS Arthur Harry (1863 – 1920) – purchased Cottingley Woods from Wm. Ferrand. Built the present Cottingley Hall and Cottingley Manor. He lived in Cottingley Manor and his son Arthur Edward was given Cottingley Hall as a wedding present. Owner of Brigella mills. Major motivator and investor behind formation of Rolls Royce Limited in 1907 and served as a director until his death. He offered land at Bradford to Rolls Royce for a factory, but they chose Derby!

CLOUGH Thomas (1853 – 1902) – Entertainer who lived at Strand, Quebec and 28 Main Street between 1880 and 1902. Performed in many theatres throughout the North of England under the name Professor Du Bonner.

DEPEDEN Sir John – In 1393 John (chevalier) and his wife Elizabeth received from Robert de Wycliff all his right in the manor of Cottingley. In 1397 they granted to William Gascoigne, Nicholas and Richard, his brothers, John Amyas and Robert Gellersthorpe, chaplin, all the manor of Cottingley Sir John died about 1402. 20 Aug 1402 In the will of Sir John Depeden, lord of Helagh, there occurs the bequest: “;Et do et lego cuilibet domui fratrum existencium infra comitate Eboracensis xiij s. iiij d.”; [York: Borthwick Institute, Probate Register 3, fo. 89].

FERRAND Benjamin of St Ives, Lord of Manors of Cottingey & Oakworth, JP and DL, baptised 1730 died unmarried October 1803 aged 73.

FERRAND Edward born 1778. In 1809 could describe himself as Lord of the Manors of Cottingley, Oakworth, Allerton cum Wilsden and Crossley after acquiring the former property of the Knights of St.John. He died 21st March 1837.

FERRAND W. Busfeild. M.P.

FIRTH Jack (1917 – 1981) Played 1st Class Cricket between 1949 and 1958 for Yorkshire & Leicestershire as Wicket Keeper – Right Hand Batsman. Made 3588 runs in his career. Also represented M.C.C. and Minor Counties.

FRANKE Stephen – brother of Anthony, together with Thos. BROOKE – yeoman of Netherwoodhouse, William MORVELL of Cottingley and John RAWSON – husbandman of Ingrow became owners of the manor in 1590 for the sum of £1040. The manor consisted of 12 messuages, four cottages and two watermills, twelve gardens, 400 acres of wood and 500 acres of moorland. These four allotted themselves portions and sold other lots to tenants. In 1591 Stephen FRANKE bought from his co-partners the mansion house – Cottingley Hall – which was his family residence until about 1600. In 1620 Stephen died leaving his son impoverished and in debt.

FRANKE William – Son of Anthony. In 1566 Father and son conveyed the manor and capital together with all messuages, houses, cottages, barns, garthings, tofts, crofts, perquisites and profits of courts etc. of Cottingley to Bryan BAYLES, merchant of Potternewton for £180. Grandfather William Franke conveyed the interest he had for the term of his life to BAYLES in 1572 for a payment of £9.9s.4d a year for life – certain interests of William the father of Anthony being excepted.

GASCOIGNE William – all manor of Cottingley granted by Sir John & Elizabeth Depeden to William and his brothers Nicholas and Richard , John AMYAS and Robert GALLESHTORPE in 1397. Sir William Gascoigne was made Chief Justice of the Kings Bench by King Henry IV in 1400. He died in 1414 – he and his wife lie in Harewood Church.

GASCOIGNE Sir William – Great Grandson of William granted manor to William FRANKE in 1503. (Father of Judge GASCOIGNE married daughter of Nicholas FRANKE – family connection)
Read about SIR WILLIAM GASCOIGNE in the Love To Know 1911 Encyclopdia

GRIFFITHS Frances – Together with Elsie Wright took photographs of the Cottingley Fairies. Married in 1928 to soldier Sydney Way. Died in July 1986.

HILL Elsie Wright – born 1901 died April 1988. Fooled Conan Doyle and the world with her fairy photographs. An extremely gifted and accomplished artist who painted landscapes and portraits, mainly in watercolour.

HILL Thomas (1867 -1920) A plumber by trade, Thomas lived at Cliffe Villas and was a member of Shipley Council from 1902 serving as Chairman from 1912 to 1919. Her was awarded the O.B.E. by King George V in 1920 for his work on various war committees.

HUME Stanley (1924 – 1990) – Blind pianist and humorous impersonator. Also played mouth organ, saxophone, accordion and clarinet. Performed on BBC Children’s Hour (1937) and wrote for the BBC Light Programme (1941).Played for American Air Force in Germany, at clubs in London and at restaurants and clubs in Bradford.

MACKERETH James Allan (1871 – 1948) Born at Ambleside, was a bank clerk in Harrogate and Bradford before his marriage in 1902 when he moved to Stocka House, Cottingley, where he lived until his death. Published 13 books of poetry and 2 novels. Publications include – In Grasmere Dale and other poems (1907), The Wake of the Phoenix (1912) The Red Red Dawn (1917) and To a Great City (1934). In 1948 he was awarded a Civil List pension for his services to literature.

MOORHOUSE Adrian b 1964 – Swimmer who performed in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games winning a gold medal in 1988. Was also a Commonwealth and European Games gold medal winner and was a world record holder at one time.

PORTZ Geoff (1931 – 2016) British Empire, British Heavyweight and British Mid-Heavyweight wrestling champion.

PRIESTLEY – John Gillies (1879 – 1941) Born at Idle, son of mill owner Charles Henry Priestley and his wife, Annie. Moved to Cottingley Hall in 1887. Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. Gained medical qualification at St. Bart’s Hospital, London. Served as Lieutenant in the RAMC in WW1, was mentioned in dispatches twice in 1915 and was awarded the Military Cross which he received from King George V. After the war was appointed Reader in Clinical Physiology at Oxford University where he remained until his death. Respected author (some joint) of medical publications.

SKIRROW SMITH Isaac Cattle Dealer of Cottingley. Purchased the Town Hall Clock in 1865 for £46. Clock made by Cryer of Bingley.

SMITH David b 1940. Lived at New Brighton and Hollings Street. Played 1st Class cricket for Derbyshire 1965 – 1970. Appeared in the 1969 Gilette Cup Final at Lords against Yorkshire!

SMITH Dorothy b 1919 – Gymnast who performed in the 1948 Olympic Games in London.

SMITH Geoffrey (1928 – 2013) Bradford City goalkeeper who played 253 league games for the club between 1952 and 1959, including 200 consecutive appearances.

TAYLOR Geoff b 1957 – Swam the English Channel in 12 hours 6 minutes on 21st July 2006, at that time the oldest successful swimmer. In 2005 won the 2-way Windermere Swimming Championship in 12 hours 47 minutes and 3 seconds.

THORNTON Richard (1838 – 1863) Born at Cottingley Hall, the 11th of 12 children of Richard and Eliza Thornton. Richard studied at Bingley Grammar School and the Royal School of Mines in London. In 1858 he accompanied Dr. David Livingstone, as his geologist, on the Zambesi expedition. After later separating from Livingstone was involved in the first European survey of the Kilimanjaro mountains with Baron Von Der Decken. He was able to confirm that snow existed in hottest Africa and accurately assessed the height of Mount Kilimanjaro, though not conquering it. After rejoining Livingstone, he died of dysentery at the age of 25 and was buried near the river Shire under a baobab tree.

TIDSWELL Jean b 1948 – World Drag Racing Champion 1983. Lived at Langlands Road.

WICKHAM Henry, J.P. Lieut. Col. of the First Regiment of Foot, born 7th September 1731 – died 9th October 1804.
Married to Elizabeth Lamplugh a Cottingley heiress (d.1815) Received the Cottingley estate as his wife’s marriage portion, retired from the army and settled down at Cottingley Hall.

WICKHAM William – (1761 – 1840) – born at Cottingley Hall. Educated at Winchester, Harrow and Oxford University taking a Law Degree in Geneva, Switzerland in 1786. Married at Geneva in 1788 Eleonore Madeleine Bertrand (of Swiss nationality), daughter of M. Louis Bertrand, a Professor at Geneva University. William was appointed ambassador to Switzerland and assisted some of the French aristocrats to escape the French Revolution. Cottingley’s “Scarlet Pimpernel“. MP for Heytesbury, Cashel (Ireland) and Callington. Served in various government offices including Chief Secretary of Ireland.

WRIGHT Arthur (1865-1926) – Father of Elsie Wright, uncle of Frances Griffiths. Worked in the Bradford mills in the 1870’s and worked at a variety of trades before working for the millionaire Mr. Briggs at his Cottingley mansion. There it was his job to maintain Mr. Briggs 5 motor cars.