Romney, New (St. Nicholas)
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.