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Ringwood (St. Peter and St. Paul)

RINGWOOD (St. Peter and St. Paul), a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the hundred of Ringwood, Ringwood and S. divisions of the county of Southampton; containing, with the tythings of North Ashley, Bistern with Crow, Burley, and Kingston, 3700 inhabitants, of whom 2387 are in the town, 20 miles (W. S. W.) from Southampton, and 91 (S. W. by W.) from London. This place is of great antiquity, having been of some importance during the Saxon times. It was originally named Regnum, or "the town of the Regni," mentioned by Antoninus; and subsequently Rinovid and Regnewood, which, by a Saxon termination, denote "the wood of the Regni." The town is situated on the eastern bank of the navigable river Avon, which, dividing eastward into three branches, over each of which is a stone bridge, afterwards collects its waters into a broad expanse, with an island in the middle, crossed by a causeway. It is well built, and consists principally of four streets; the inhabitants are supplied with good water, and the atmosphere is thought to be very salubrious. The manufacture of woollen cloth and stockings was formerly carried on to a considerable extent, but has declined: here is a large brewery for ale. A railway was completed in 1847, from Southampton, by Ringwood, to Dorchester. The market is on Wednesday: and fairs take place on July 10th and December 11th, mostly for cattle and forest colts. Manorial courts are held twice a year, at one of which a constable is appointed; and petty-sessions for the Ringwood division are holden here. The living is an endowed vicarage, with the parochial chapelry of Harbridge annexed, valued in the king's books at £75. 5. 5.; net income, £960; patrons and impropriators, the Provost and Fellows of King's College, Cambridge. The church is an ancient and spacious structure in the early English style, but its beauty has been almost effaced by modern alterations. At Bistern and Burley are other churches. There are places of worship for Independents and Unitarians. The free grammar school was founded in 1586, by Richard Lyne, who bequeathed a house, and a rent-charge of £13. 6. 8., which, by subsequent bequests, has been increased to £30 per annum; it has an exhibition of £5 per annum for three years to either of the universities, but the institution approximates in character to a national school. The poor-law union of Ringwood comprises five parishes or places, containing a population of 5355.

Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.

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