Cooks' Cottage

Captain James Cook was born into the lower working class in the North-East of England as the son of a Scottish day-labourer. In his 27th year, 1755, young James moved to London when he joined the Royal Navy during the Seven Years War between France and Great Britain. He already had 11 years experience sailing Whitby Coal ships from Newcastle to London on the coal-run before he switched to the Royal Navy.

His childhood was spent around three main villages in North Yorkshire; Marton, (near Middlesborough), Ormesby and Great Ayton. In the latter he spent 8 years with his family of up to 7 siblings where his father worked in a supervisory role, either as a Hind or Bailiff, for the wealthy Lord Thomas Skottowe.

By 1746 James had been fortunate to have been given an education in the ‘Michael Postgate’ school in Great Ayton whilst at the same time he helped his father on Aireyhome Farm. In 1749 he lost his only surviving brother and according to the Captain Cook Society; "Grace and James Cook had eight children. Four died in childhood. Only the second son James and his sisters Margaret and Christiana survived." [CCS-UK website]

Lord Skottowe owned another property on the edge of the village of Great Ayton and in 1755 he sold this ‘vacant block’ to James Cook and his wife Grace. The block was recorded as ‘a waste-land known as Holygarth’in the deeds for the purchase of the land. It is said that James Senior then ceased his employment on the farm and moved on to his vacant block and built a cottage, but where did his wife and two surviving daughters live? This same cottage was bought controversially from the village, dismantled and sent to Australia in 1933. Half is still missing in England!