Waddelow

Waddelow is a surname which was recorded in the villages of the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire as early as the 16th Century. It may originate from a village called Odell in Bedfordshire but this has not been confirmed. There has been many spellings of the name, Waddelow, Waddilow, Wadelow, Waddelowe & Wadilowe. Wadlow and Waddelove are variants of the name and are found mostly outside of Cambridgeshire. Over time Waddelows and Wadlows have moved out from Cambridgeshire to various parts of England, including London, Norfolk, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire. They have also emigrated abroad to Austrailia, Canada, New Zealand & the USA. The name has also been used as a first name in many fenland families

Waddelows in History

Thomas Waddelow was a Farmer living in Littleport. He died in 1608, leaving a wife and several children who are named in his will. His decendants continued to live in Littleport until the mid 1800s. He is one of the earliest recorded Waddelows in the parish registers and his decendants lived in Little Downham, Wilburton, Coveney and neighbouring villages. (Source: parish registers of Littleport)

Rebecca Waddelow, née Godson was a shop keeper in the village at the time of the Littleport Riots in 1815. Her shop and home was ransacked and her life threatened by the rioting villagers who had come looking for her Grandson Henry Martin, who was a local farmer. Henry managed to escape by jumping out of the window as the mob broke in the front door. The Rioters were brought to trial and the ring leaders were found guilty and hung at Ely and buried in St Mary's graveyard. (Source: parish registers of Littleport)

Chambers Waddelow Golding lived at Spinney Abbey and is said to have ridden his horse up the stair case at Spinney Abbey, leaving hoof marks still visable to this day.

Flo Wadlow started, aged 16, as a young kitchen maid in South Kensington and at the almost unheard-of age of 23 was appointed cook at Blickling Hall. In 1938 she cooked for Queen Mary. Her memoirs was published Over A Hot Stove at the age of 95. She died at the age of 100 in January 2013

Notes & Reference

^ Strawson. "The Littleport Riots". Family website. Strawson family. http://www.btinternet.com/~strawson.online/riots/riot.htm. Retrieved 19 June 2010.

^ "Riots at Littleport and Ely". The Times: p. 3. 30 May 1816. http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/294/538/120057552w16/purl=rc1_TTDA_0_CS50871998&dyn=3!xrn_2_0_CS50871998&hst_1?sw_aep=cam_earl. Retrieved 31 August 2010. (subscription required)