Cotes de val, near Gilmorton

John Howcutt (1741-1819) lived and farmed at Cotes de val from at least as early as 1772 when he married Elizabeth Higginson at Leire. The farmhouse is about one mile north of John's home village, Bitteswell, and originally had a moat. It is close to the site of a deserted medieval village. Elizabeth remained at the farm until her own death in 1826.