136
RIDDELLS OF NEWCASTLE AND GATESHEAD.
the successive heads of this family, Dukentinus de Ridel, Patricius de Ri-
del, and Walter de Ridel, who appear to have held the lordship of the
villa and manor of Whickham, in the county palitine, during the thir-
teenth century. The documentary records relating to the early genera
tion are somewhat obscure and disconnected, and the printed pedigrees
do not agree as to the head of the family.
FIRST GENERATION.
Sir Jordan de Ridel¹ (1), was a son of Auskittel' (1), of the main
line of the family denominated "Riddells of Riddell," of Roxburghshire,
Scotland, whose pedigree see in this work. His mother was evidently a
sister of Jordanus le Flemming, and hence the name "Jordan" in the
Ridel family. This man was a witness to a document in Scotland as early
as 1165, and he was probably born as soon as 1140. He was a prominent
man in his day, and called to various responsible offices. He was a knight
and sheriff of Northumberland; acquired large estates at Tilmouth, in
Durham, and held the moiety (lordship) of that manor during the reign
of King Edward I. He married and had issue, but his wife's name does
not appear.
SECOND GENERATION.
-
a
Walter de Ridel² (1), son of Jordan¹ (1), succeeded to the lordship of
the villa and manor Whickham. He was Sheriff of Northumberland,
very important office at that time, and many times employed by his sov-
ereign on responsible commissions in the thirteenth century. He married
and had issue; wife's name not known.
THIRD GENERATION.
Sir William de Ridel (1), son of Walter2 (1), was a knight. He
was appointed Sheriff of Northumberland in 1314 (seventh and eighth
years of King Edward II), by patent from Bishop Kellaw, Constable of
Norham Castle, and with others of his kinsman held the custody of that
fortress. He was likewise employed in many public services by the king.
We are also told that William was in possession of the whole manor and
villa of Tillmouth,* of the manor and villa of Twizel,† of the hamlets of
* GURDEN RIDDELL Owned Tillmouth House in 1272; whether he was a brother
or uncle of Sir William we do not know.
TWIZEL CASTLE, situated on a wooded height above the east bank of the river
Till, is now gaunt ruin eighty yards in front, with gaping windows, and round
towers at the angles. It was more than forty years in building; the castle-gallery
measures ninety feet by twenty-two. In the hollow below the castle is an ancient
bridge, a most picturesque and lofty semi-circular arch over the Till, more than
ninety feet in span and forty-two in height. A little below the bridge, and under
a rock twenty feet high, is St. Helen's Well, a petrifying spring; and a little north-
west of Twizel, is Tillmouth. This glen, where the ancient Ridells owned exten-
sive lands, and defended themselves, with their retainers, in the strongholds of
Norham and Twizel, is romantic and delightful, with steep banks on each side, cov-
ered with copse, particularly with hawthorn. The scenery, and fountain from
which the Ridells slaked their thirst, are beautifully mentioned by Scott, in "Mar-
mion," as follows:-
"From Flodden ridge
The Scots beheld the English host
Leave Barmore-wood, their evening post,
And heedful watched them as they crossed
The Till by Twizel Bridge.
High sight it is, and haughty, while
They dive into the deep defile;
