Charles Cotton (1630 -1687)
Charles Cotton, English writer, angler and friend of Izaak Walton, was born on 28th April 1630 in Beresford Hall, on the Staffordshire, Derbyshire border. His mother was Olive, daughter of Sir John Stanhope of Elvaston, Derbyshire and his father a wealthy landowner with many literary connections.
He was well educated, with a good knowledge of French, Italian as well as the classics, but it is unsure as to whether he went to Cambridge.
In 1656 Cotton married Isobella Hutchinson, daughter of Sir Thomas Hutchinson of Owthorpe, Notts. Two years later his father died, leaving him the considerable estates at Beresford and Bentley. The River Dove flows through Beresford Dale and it is here that he learnt to fly fish and possibly where he met up with Izaak Walton who befriended him for many years.
In 1664 he published a burlesque titled Scarronicles, which became a popular work which ran into 14 editions.
He was well educated, with a good knowledge of French, Italian as well as the classics, but it is unsure as to whether he went to Cambridge.
In 1656 Cotton married Isobella Hutchinson, daughter of Sir Thomas Hutchinson of Owthorpe, Notts. Two years later his father died, leaving him the considerable estates at Beresford and Bentley. The River Dove flows through Beresford Dale and it is here that he learnt to fly fish and possibly where he met up with Izaak Walton who befriended him for many years.
In 1664 he published a burlesque titled Scarronicles, which became a popular work which ran into 14 editions.
Charles Cotton Hotel
By 1905 it had changed its name to The Charles
Cotton Hotel and J Firth in “Highways of Derbyshire”
was talking about “an interesting little collection of
old prints and portraits of Cotton and Walton”.
A travellers guide written in the 1930’s also said “it is
a lodestar, which draws fishermen within its walls.
In the dining room are mementoes of that prince
of anglers, Charles Cotton, including portraits and
verses written in his own hand.” Unfortunately all
of these mementoes are no longer at the Hotel.
© Charles Cotton Hotel 2008
The hotel was originally built in the late seventeenth century as a coaching inn and was known as the Bulls Head. During the early
1800s it was acquired by the Sleigh family and renamed the Sleigh Arms; they extended it to its current size in 1864. James Cotson
1800s it was acquired by the Sleigh family and renamed the Sleigh Arms; they extended it to its current size in 1864. James Cotson
in “On Foot Through The Peaks” (1870) described it as “a quiet old-fashioned country inn .... in which good old Izaak Walton
himself would have delighted to take his ease.”
Registered in England & Wales number: 5926652
Richard and Emma Gould, shown in the photograph,
took over from Mr J. Gretton as the landlord and
landlady of the Charles Cotton Hotel in March 1917
and stayed for 27 years until 1944. This was the
longest period of continuous ownership in the hotels
history.
The Hotel was purchased in November 2006 by
Ray & Carolyn Cork and is being restored to its
previous glory.
