Cottesbrooke Hall, Northampton, England

The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

In the second quarter of the 17th century the two manors of Cottesbrooke were acquired by Sir John Langham (died 1671), a successful member of the Levant and East India Companies who was building up an extensive estate in Northamptonshire. He served as MP and Lord Mayor of London, and was created baronet in 1660.

His grandson John (died 1746), 4th Baronet, who inherited in 1700, was the first of the family permanently to reside at Cottesbrooke, beginning the present house in 1702. He served as sheriff in 1703, and his apparently wide interests in architecture and music are reflected in the design of Cottesbrooke Hall.

Repairs were undertaken during the time of James Langham (died 1795), 7th Baronet, MP and sheriff, who also did work in the park, in the later 1770s digging a lake and building new lodges and approaches. The Langhams retained Cottesbrooke until 1911, when it was sold by the 13th Baronet to R. B. Brassey. In 1937 it was again sold, to the MacDonald-Buchanans. It remains in private hands in 1998.

Cottesbrooke Hall is one of the candidates for the prototype of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park (guidebook).