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Romney, New (St. Nicholas)

ROMNEY, NEW (St. Nicholas), a decayed market-town, a cinque-port, and parish, having separate jurisdiction, in the union of Romney-Marsh, E. division of Kent, 34 miles (S. E.) from Maidstone, and 68 (S. E. by E.) from London; containing 955 inhabitants. This place, the name of which is probably derived from the Saxon Rumen-ea, "a large watery expanse, or marsh," arose from the decay of Old Romney. At the time of the Conquest it was a town of considerable importance, divided into twelve wards, and containing five parochial churches, of which that of St. Nicholas is the only one now remaining. It was given by William the Conqueror to his brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, whom that monarch created Earl of Kent; and was subsequently made a cinque-port, to which the towns of Old Romney and Lydd were added as members, though not included within its jurisdiction. In return for such privileges, it was charged with the duty of supplying five ships of war for the service of the king. In the 15th of Edward I. an irruption of the sea inundated an extensive tract of land, destroyed the populous village of Bromhill and a considerable part of the town, diverted the course of the river Rother, and ruined its fine haven on the western shore; since which time it has shared the fate of its predecessor, and, though still respectably inhabited, has fallen into decay as a port. On several occasions, as a cinque-port, it furnished a complement of five ships duly manned and equipped for naval engagements, especially in the reigns of John, Edward III., Henry VII., and Henry VIII. The town is situated on rising ground near the centre of Romney Marsh, and consists of a broad well-paved street, with a smaller one intersecting it almost at right angles. The chief trade arises from the grazing of cattle; and there is a considerable fair for live-stock on Aug. 21st.

New Romney, a borough by prescription, received its first charter of incorporation from Edward III., under the style of "Barons of the town and port of Romney:" a new charter was granted by Elizabeth, by which the corporation consists of a mayor, twelve jurats, and commoncouncilmen, with a recorder, chamberlain, town-clerk, and other officers, under the title of "Mayor, Jurats, and Commonalty." A court called a Brotherhood and Guestling, connected with the business of the various cinque-ports and their members, is held, when necessary, on the Tuesday next after St. Margaret's day; sessions occur quarterly, and by adjournment every six weeks. The powers of the county debt-court of Romney, established in 1847, extend over nearly the whole of the registration-district of Romney-Marsh. The guildhall is a neat structure of brick cemented so as to resemble stone. Two representatives, under the title of Barons, were returned to parliament until the 2nd of William IV., when the borough was disfranchised. The parish comprises 2929 acres, of which 555 are common or waste land. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king's books at £6. 16. 3., and in the patronage of All Souls College, Oxford, with a net income of £160: the vicarial tithes have been commuted for £87. 13., and the impropriate for £42. 7.: there are 20 acres of glebe. The church is a spacious edifice, consisting of three aisles and three chancels, and a square tower at the west end, with several portions of Norman architecture, and a variety of monuments and brasses. Here are places of worship for Baptists and Wesleyans. An hospital was founded in 1610, and endowed with land by John Southland, for the maintenance of a governor, who must be a scholar of Oxford or Cambridge, four poor persons, and two children.


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

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