Ebchester Low Mill and the Wardles

[tonyvant]

I am descended from the Wardle family who used to run the Low Saw Mill in Ebchester and I have census information placing them there from 1841 through to 1911.  They also lived in a number of houses in Ebchester itself.  The mill primarily made Poss Sticks and latterly brushes.

I have unearthed some of the history of the family and their time in Ebchester from 1839 including that in the book “Ebchester – The Story of a North Durham Village”, the census and parish records.  What I am trying to establish is when the Low Mill was started, when the Wardles arrived and who owned it (the Wardles or someone else).

Does anyone have further pre 1839 info regarding the Wardles and the mill in Ebchester?

Thanks

Lynne

[mim]

Lynne,
Palace Green University Library Durham hold the following will:

George WARDLE, yeoman, of Hole Row in the parish of Shotley in the county of Northumberland [Shotley, Northumberland]

Date of probate: 7 September 1808

will, 13 December 1800 (DPRI/1/1808/W7/1-2)

mim

[tonyvant]

mim
Thank you very much for that - I shall investigate.
Lynne

[pb3]

Lynne,

           If you put:-  "An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for Broadoak Quarry, Northumberland" (without the inverted commas) into Google search, you will find a PDF, which, while not dealing directly with Ebchester, has quite a bit of information about the area, including some passing references to the mills. There are several old publications to be found from Google searches which include some history of Ebchester, but with only passing, if any, reference to the mills.

          The two headstone inscriptions below are the only ones I have come across, so far, referring to the Wardles. I haven't yet totally completed the headstone transcriptions for Ebchester but I'm reasonably sure that these are the only two there - the ones covered so far run from the late 1600's to the present. Sorry I couldn't give you more information.

In Loving Memory of
JOHN  WARDLE,
the Mill Ebchester
who died August 27TH 1898
aged 76[?]* years.
Also NANCY his Wife,
who died FebRY 17TH 1869,
aged 46[?]* years.
[The second digit is obscured by erosion and could be a 5, 6 or 8.]


In Loving Memory of
WILLIAM WARDLE,
the beloved Husband of ANN WARDLE, of Ebchester,
who died FebY 7TH 1901, aged 55 years.
Also NANCY ISABELL, their Daughter,
who died April 23RD 1879, aged 7 years.
Also ALFRED STRATTON WARDLE, their Son,
who died April 20TH 1889, aged 1 year.
Also JOHN WILLIAM WARDLE,
their Son and beloved Husband of BARBARA WARDLE,
who died DecR 11TH 1912, aged 39 years.

            PatB
 

[tonyvant]

PatB
Thank you so much for that link - it is a really interesting document and it tells me when the saw mill was demolished.
Last time I was in Ebchester (I live in the Midlands) I went to have a look in the graveyard & did see those two headstones.  John & Nancy Wardle were my great great great grandparents.  William & Ann Wardle were my great great grandparents.  Ann is on the 1901 census as the Saw Mill Proprietor & she also built  Earlwood & Oakdale House in Ebchester.
I also found the fallen headstone of Charles S Wardle who died Nov 23rd 1915.  He was the son of John & Nancy.
The War Memorial 1939-1945, also in the graveyard, includes the name of James Stratton Wardle, great grandson of John & Nancy. 
If you do come across anymore Wardle headstones please let me know.
Thanks again, Lynne

[Palform]

I have  the 1619-1812 Ebchester indexed parish registers on fiche. A search has only revealed one entry which reads:

19 Feb 1809 Baptism of John Linsly, Chopwell Paper Mill, parish of Ryton [born 18 Oct 1808] 2nd son of John Linsly, native of Brandon, parish of Branspeth, by his wife Ann Wardle, native of Overwaters, parish of of Sherburn, dau of Thos Wardle.

Unfortunately it does not answer your question but may assist of where the family came from.

Good luck

Keith

[tonyvant]

Thanks Keith

I haven't come across any Linslys as yet but I will make a note.  I feel certain that my Great x 3 Grandfather John Wardle, who was at the poss stick mill aged 18 in the 1841 census, wasn't from Ebchester or the surrounding areas.  His birthplace was different on every census form - Jesmond/Newcastle/N Shields/S Shields/ Unknown - not very helpful!!

Lynne

[FifiBear]

Hi. My husband is a Wardle. We live in Ebchester as do his Mother and Uncle. Uncle Bob (aged 88 years) is also descended from the Wardles  from the Poss Stick Mill.  His 2 brothers Jack (John) and Stratton are both deceased.  We can make some enquiries for you if you have anything in particular to ask. Bob is very knowledgeable about the local history and has lived in the same house, which belonged to his parents, all his life.
Regards
Lynne

[tonyvant]

Hi Lynne
Thank you for your post - I was thrilled to read it.  Thank you too for your kind offer.  Questions - where do I start???  My biggest one is the history of the Mill.  I have evidence of the Wardles being there from 1839 but I have no idea when they actually began their business.  I have read that the Mill ceased working in the 1920's and the wheel was sold for scrap in the 30's but have not been able to find out anything else, so any scraps of information would be wonderful.
Regards
Lynne