The Hynde Cotton family’s connection with Madingley can be dated from Sir John Hynde’s acquisition of parish manors and lands during the 1520s-1540s (Victoria County History, vol.IX, pp.167-8), building Madingley Hall between 1543 and 1547. The marriage of Jane Hynde with Sir John Cotton of Landwade in 1647 united two major Cambridgeshire estates, with Madingley Hall remaining in the family until its sale in 1871.
The papers comprise manorial records from the 14th to 20th centuries; an outstanding sequence of title deeds from the 13th century onwards; some 18th and 19th century correspondence of the Cotton and King families, including diaries and journals of family members (588/F47-53), and other family papers, mostly 18th century.
An itemised list of the records is available in the searchroom (588/). A pink card index to most of the papers other than the correspondence is available on request at the searchroom desk. Free text search facilities are anticipated to become available, as well as a family tree currently only in manuscript.
A small number of 19th century family papers of Sir St Vincent and Lady Philadelphia Cotton are additionally contained within the Smith of Dry Drayton collection (370/[R67/51]).
The 588/ catalogue is available online, in revised and unrevised versions. Please follow the link in the right hand column.