LONGRIDGE AND ORDE-LISLE
Longridge is part of Horncliffe in the parish of Norham. In the 1560 Survey the Ords holding property there were George Ourde (b1534), Henricus Orde, Lionellus Ourde and Ric Ourde . In the 1631 rent roll the tenants were Thomas, George (b1567, son of George), Henry and John - all listed as Ord .
The line of Ordes of Longridge descends from Cuthbert who died in 1630 and his brother George (1567) who early in the 17th century bought an estate there from Lord Suffolk. Dying without issue in 1638 he left the estate, including two houses and 240 acres at Longridge, to his nephew Thomas (b1615). Thomas was a Royalist in the Civil War and his estate was sequestered during the Commonwealth period. He was obliged in 1655 to compound for the return of his property.
Therafter the Longridge Ordes were mostly military folk and were still battling away strongly in the 19th century. Major John Bertram Orde ( b1783) married heiress Eliza Lisle of Acton in 1814 and took up residence at Acton House, near Felton. Their son William Beresford changed the family name to Orde-Lisle following his mothers death.
The manor of Longridge became known as West Longridge in the 19th century following the creation by William Mather of the Longridge House estate nearby. West Longridge Manor Farm now offers holiday accomodation.
Longridge House was replaced in 1876 when Sir Hubert Jerningham built Longridge Towers (now Longridge Towers School).
WEETWOOD/ SHAFTO ORDE
The Ordes first purchased an estate at Weetwood in 1619 which passed through a number of Orde hands until John (b.1627) had the estate from his father. He like his brother William was a Royalist and in 1649 was obliged to compound for his sequestered assets at one sixth of the agreed value of £1824. He died without issue and Weetwood passed to his brother Lancelot (b.1630). He in turn settled the estate on his son Lancelot in 1685. This Lancelot, a Catholic and a dissenter, took part in the Jacobite rebellion and was taken prisoner at Preston in 1715. He escaped to France but spent the remainder of his life there living under an assumed name.
The brother of John Orde (b1702) and third son of Thomas of Felkington was the Rev.Thomas Orde, Vicar of Kirknewton, later known as Orde of Weetwood who in 1733 married the heiress Sarah Shafto of Benwell and Gateshead. The descendants on this line have usually pursued careers in the Church or the Army some with high rank.. Many have borne the name Shafto.
John Orde, a naval Commander, married Rosamund Dalgliesh, an heiress with £400 a year. Their son Leonard Shafto Orde reached the rank of Lieutenant General and married Louisa Jocelyn, a daughter of the 1st Earl of Roden.
His son Robert Jocelyn Shafto Orde, who lived at Shoreston Hall, near Alnwick, was succeeded by his brother Rev Leonard Shafto Orde. Shoreston was sold by Henry Powlett Shafto Orde in 1910.
James Orde (b.1774), a grandson of Rev. Thomas, married a daughter of the 7th Duke of Beaufort. In 1804 his sister Juliana married Robert Jocelyn, son of the 2nd Earl Roden.
The family home of this branch was at Hopton Hall, Suffolk and they had brewing interests in Norfolk. Julian Walter Orde (b.1861) Secretary of the RAC, was one of the prime instigators of TT racing in the Isle of Man ( The Govenor of the island George Fitzroy Somerset 3rd Lord Raglan was his cousin) and he was knighted in 1905. His son Cuthbert Julian was an RAF Flight Commander and World War II RAF artist. Cuthbert married Eileen Wellesby daughter of the Duke of Wellington. Cuthbert’s daughter also named Julian b. 1917 was an actress, writer and poet.
Ties with the Nunnykirk cousins were strengthened when in 1892 Evelyn Alice Orde of Hopton married Edwin Lancelot Orde, her cousin, and son of Sir William of Nunnykirk
GRINDON/NUNNYKIRK
The main Orde ofNunnykirk line continued through Sir John Orde (1702), (first son of Thomas Orde of Felkington), and his first son William (b.1743).
He married Ann Ward heiress of Nunnykirk in 1771 and a long line of Williams and Charles Williams followed.
One of these William b. 1774 was a barrister at Lincolns Inn and High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1819. He was a well known breeder of horses, who had particular success with ‘Nunnykirk’ which won the 2000 Guineas in 1848 and Newminster’ which won the St Leger in 1851. ‘Newminster’ went on to sire two Derby winners ( 1856 and 1864).
The name of this racehorse ‘Newminster’ suggests a connection between the family of Ordes at Nunnykirk near Morpeth and the Ords of Fenham and Newminster Abbey in the parish of Morpeth.
His son Charles William (b.1810) continued tradition in the law and horse breeding. He carried out considerable improvements at Nunnykirk Hall. He was High Sheriff in 1846.
William (b.1854) was in residence at Nunnykirk for the 1881 census, together with his family and eleven servants. His will of 1920 left estate valued at £27,000.
Charles William (b.1884) educated at Eton like his father, and at Kings College, Cambridge was a diplomat and was knighted KCMG on appointment as Ambassador to Chile in 1940. His other home was at Tandridge Priory, Oxted, Surrey.