Place:Waldridge, Durham, England

source: Family History Library Catalog

the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia

Waldridge is a village in County Durham, England. The population at the 2001 UK census was 215. But prior to the 2011 UK census the parish boundaries changed and the population shown at this census was 4,215.

Waldridge is situated to the southwest of Chester le Street. It is known as either Waldridge Fell or Waldridge Village, the 'Fell' referring to the surrounding area of moorland. The village used to be known as Waldridge Colliery. The current village dates back to the 1890s, the original village having been located on the fell which overlooks the present location.

A nineteenth century description

A Vision of Britain through Time provides the following description of Waldridge from John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales of 1870-72:

"WALDRIDGE, a township in Chester-le-Street parish, Durhamshire; 5½ miles N by W of Durham. Acres: 795. Real property: £4,660; of which £3,430 are in mines, and £300 in railways. Population in 1851: 747; in 1861: 945. Houses: 158."

Waldridge was originally a township in the ancient parish of Chester le Street, Durham. It became a separate civil parish in 1866. It was part of Chester le Street Rural District from 1894 until 1974. Between 1974 and 2009 it became part of the larger Chester le Street non-metropolitan district. Since 2009 County Durham has been a unitary authority.

Research Tips

• County Durham Archives. Durham County Record Office is located on the Lower Ground Floor of County Hall, the administrative headquarters of Durham County Council, in Durham City.
• Northumberland and Durham FHS covers both Northumberland and the northern part of County Durham. The Family History Society have a research centre in Percy House in central Newcastle upon Tyne (full address on website), open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. Browse the website to see what else the society can provide.
• The Cleveland, North Yorkshire & South Durham Family History Society covers the southern part of County Durham as well as the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire on the south side of the River Tees. Their homepage includes a map to show the society's coverage. (Once again, full address and other details on the website)
• Further information from GENUKI
• Ordnance Survey map of Durham 1832 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time. This map includes the boundaries of the various Wards (or "hundreds") in existence at that time.
• Ordnance Survey map of Durham 1900 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time
• Ordnance Survey map of Durham 1944 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time
• English Jurisdictions 1851, a parish finding aid provided by FamilySearch, particularly helpful in large towns and cities.
• Unfortunately, the Victoria County History for Durham is limited in its coverage. It only includes the cathedral city of Durham, including an account of the cathedral itself. Also covers Stockton Ward in the south-east of the county (bordering North Yorkshire) including Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees.