Wardley
Major Settlement in the Parish of Wardley
Historical Forms
- Werlea 1067 BM
- Werleia(m) 1080–7 Reg Wm1 Dugd
- Vuerlia Stephen Ch 1340
- Warleie c1125 Dugd
- Warleia c1160 BM 1199 GildR
- Warlea(m) Hy1 Dugd 1157 WDB
- Warle 1205 P 1209–34 AllS 1263 RGrav
- Warlee 1202 Ass
- Warleg' Hy2 Dugd 1202 Ass 1235,1238,1243 RGros
- Warlei 1199 GildR
- Warleye 1249 Cl 1286 Ass 1311 Rut
- Warleya 1223,1224 RHug 1254 Val
- Wardel' 1241 RGros
- Wardeley(e) 1263 Ass 1265 Misc 1535 VE
- Wardele 1266 For c1291 Tax 1428 FA
- Wardelegh 1284 Cl
- Wardl' 1239,1243 RGros
- Wardleyh 1235 ib
- Wardle 1286 Ass
- Wardley 1535 VE 1610 Speed
Etymology
The second el. is OE lēah 'a woodland glade, a clearing in woodland'. The first is obscure. It is uncertain whether the d is intrusive. If it is organic, the first el. may be OE weard 'watch' in some sense. Wardley stands on a hillside above Eye Brook with fine westerly views across the Rutland frontier. The hillside would have made a notable vantage point to look out for threatened incursions from the west, v. weard , lēah .