Tea party, Rectory, 1900 (photo E Smith)

The Rectory, 2 High Street, Cottenham

History of the Rectory

Listed building:

Rectory, late C17 and late C19.

According to Cottenham in Focus (2002) the Old Rectory was built in several stages from the late 16th century. It replaced a medieval rectory said to have fallen into ruin by 1538.

1635 rector was Dr John Manby. He was imprisoned under the Parliamentarians in 1641 in St John’s College. He escaped to Yorkshire in 1645 and a year later returned to Cottenham. However in 1644 the rectory had been given to Oliver Cromwell’s sister Robina. She was instrumental in making Peter French the next rector. John Manby’s wife and family had tried to stay on in the rectory but were eventually turned out by a band of soldiers. Mrs Manby and her five children, one a baby, took refuge with Dr Manby’s sister, Hester Cass, who lived in Cottenham. When Dr Many eventually returned to Cottenham he was arrested and, with his sister, taken to London. He was never brought to trial but was released and ran a small school in London. He was eventually reinstated to his living in Cottenham in 1660.

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1881

Ellen Sarah Banks. 31, b Mildenhall

Fanny Pauline, sister, 25, b Cottenham

Charles Pendock, brother, 18, b Cottenham

Frederic Alan Biden, nephew, 3, b Calcutta India

Lorna Grace, 2, niece, b Calcutta India

John Mansell, 55, curate, b Shropshire

Anne Papworth, 59, cook, b Haddenham

Ada Jane Hitchcock, 16, kitchenmaid,  b Hunts

Selina Ginn, 16, housemaid, b Oakington

Elizabeth Hunt, 21, nursemaid, b Oxon

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1891 Rectory

David Greig, 64, rector of Cottenham, b Scotland

Louise, 59, b Scotland

Elizabeth Maria Frances, 18, b Bucks

Elizabeth Deeley, 27, cook, b Bucks

Mary J Marriott, 19, parlourmaid, b Bucks

Minnie Haynes, 18, housemaid, b London

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1901

David Greig, clergyman church of England

Louisa

Anna L Greig, 44, b Scotland

Elizabeth M

Lilian Fisker, cook, 17, b Milton

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1911

Robert Percy Moline, 49, clergyman of C of E, b London