Prior to Roman occupation of Britain, England was divided into 22 tribal areas, each with their own king, or chief. At this time, Cottingham lay within lands occupied by the Coritani (or Corieltauvi) tribe, and Coritani Coins have been found in Corby, Gretton and Kettering.
There was an iron age settlement on the hilltop where Rockingham Castle now stands, and major iron age centres at Leicester and Sleaford. Iron age settlements consisted of dwellings made from timber, wattle and daub. It wasn’t until the arrival of the invading Roman army in 43 CE that stone buildings were erected.