Potted History of Tyneside Wardles
The question we all want to know is, “Where did we come from?” and from there we want to trace our ancestors as far back as we can. Records for ordinary folk are scant but thanks to census’ baptism records, employers’ records and in our case mining companies’ something can be found out about the Tyneside Wardle ancestors and the communities they lived in.
So far I have come across two theories about the origin of the name Wardle.
One theory is that the Wardles originated from Weardale which is an area of countryside on the south of Northumberland along the river Wear, east of Bishop Auckland Co. Durham. Weardale, shown on the above map, is a remote dale bordering the wilderness of the Yorkshire dales and stretching as far as Cumberland and has a long history. It is thought that the name Wardle could have been derived from Weardale because in the local dialect the two named sound similar.
There are records of early coal and clay mine workings in this long valley and it is quite possible that, using their skills, people moved during the industrial revolution. Some may have moved to the Durham minefields some may have moved to the mines and pottery fields of the midlands and some may have moved to the industrial riverside ports. It is likely that some Wardles will have moved further north to Tyneside to seek the benefits of the increasing trade and industrial development in C18, as prosperity increased in the area, generating work in shipbuilding and engineering.
Wardles have spread world wide and it is not possible to say exactly where they came from or indeed if they did come from one place. If they did it would have been a very long time ago.
A second theory is that they derived their name from the work they did like carters, farriers, carpenters or bakers, and that the Wardles were wardens or lookouts for trouble. On this theory it is worth consulting”UPPeR NORTH TYNEDALE, A NORTHUMBRIAN VALLEY AND ITS PEOPLE” by Berryl Charlton a local historian.
Berryl Charlton tells us that in the fourteenth century, there were permanent hostilities on both sids of the Scottish border and a unique form of local administration was formed to deal with it. Local kinships or clans, known as ‘graynes’ such as thwe Charltons, Milburns, Dodds and Robsons clubbed together for mutual support. By 1309 forms of military control emerged with the office of Wardens of the Marches and their responsibility was the defence of the border.
In C15th the ‘graynes’ became more powerful setting out on vengeance forays as society grew more lawless and steeling of livestock and possessions was rife. In 1579 the infamous Scott ‘by the name of Kinmont, Willie Armstrong stole 80 head of cattle and 100 sheep and killed Oswold, of the Dodds clan. The result of all this insurgencies was the setting up of local militias with wardens or lookouts for trouble; ‘Wardles’. The lookouts were given land concessions provided they and their family provided warnings of invasion from strategic locations such as Hadrian’s wall or hill top locations. Place names such Watch Hill another possible derivation for Wardle, Wearside remain to this day
The family of Wardles which is the subject of this website have been traced back to John Wardle 1776 who was born in the small village of Longhorsley, about five miles to the north east of Morpeth. His father also called John,is believed to have come from Alnwick.
On the 4th February 1798, at the age of 22 John married a young 18 year old girl called Hannah Graham, from the neighbouring village of Hebron, about three miles in the direction of Morpeth.
After marrying Hannah John moved to Longbenton about five miles from Newcastle Upon Tyne where his first child Henry was born five months after he got married. Old maps of Longbenton show that at the beginning of C18, it was a small village in the countryside similar in size to Longhorsley with the parish church of St Andrews on the outskirts of the village. Longbenton is approximately two miles from Wallsend on Tyne and one mile from Gosforth. It is known that succeeding generations remained there and do so to this day. Others have moved world wide. There was a street called Wardle Street in Gosforth and this may have been called after the people who lived there or possibly the location close to Hadrian’s wall where lookouts were located.
John 1776 had seven children:
Henry born 12.07.1798 Longbenton
Isabella born 08.021800 Wallsend
Mary born 15.08.1802 Longbenton
Margaret born 15.o7.1804 Percy Main
John born 16.12.1806 Wallsend
William born 19.02.1809 Longbenton
Hannah born 13.09.1812 Longbenton
The family of John Wardle formed an association with the Temples of Newcastle. Henry married Margaret Temple on 21.02.1824 and continued to live in Longbenton and John married her sister Mary.
Margaret and Mary were the daughters of William and Mary (nee Gill) who were married at All Saints Church Newcastle on 15.06.1795. The Gills were cabinet makers from Berwick on Tweed thus suggesting bloodlines moving from the North east to Tyneside where a generation of Wardles living at Gosforth, Long Benton, Wallsend and Percy Main were established.
The bloodline of the C19thWardles has probably spread world wide and names will have changed. Countless numbers of people will be able to trace their roots to John Wardle 1776 of Longhorsley and they may never be found.
A link has been established however between the family of John 1806 and a family now livingin Auckland New Zealand. It is hoped this website will find links with other branches of the family and possibly more about life on Tyneside.
John Wardle
02.12.06
