IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 E/COT
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: COTTON FAMILY
Date(s): 1714-1936
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 2.56 linear metres (1652 documents).
Name of creator(s): Bow Common Estate Company
Cotton | family | landowners in East London
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
William Cotton, a former Governor of the Bank of England, owned a large amount of property in East London, mainly in Limehouse and Mile End. On his death his will (dated 6 Jul 1865) passed the estate to his executors and trustees (of whom his son was one) on condition it was to be further developed and held on trust for members of his family.
In June 1901 the estate was turned into a private company, known as the Bow Common Estate Company, limited by shares. The company remained a family concern however, and all of the shareholders were descendants of William Cotton. From 1921 the estate was sold, and the proceeds invested in trustee securities. These were realised in January 1926 and the Company liquidated, the proceeds of the realisation being distributed amongst the shareholders on a pro rata basis.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
This collection comprises records of the William Cotton Estate (later the Bow Common Estate) and documents the acquisition and running of the Cotton estate from [1714]- 1936.. The records include marriage settlements, trustee appointments, wills and probates, legal case papers, administrative papers for the Limehouse estate, papers relating to property transactions, registers of properties, plans and maps, catalogue of wines for auction and register of leases. Some of the material concerns the Bow Common Estate Company Ltd.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
The collection has been divided into 10 series.
Conditions governing access:
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Records deposited in June 1954.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
This collection is additional to ACC/2657, records of the Bow Common Estate Company.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note:
Date(s) of descriptions: Records prepared May to September 2011.