Rame (St. German)
RAME (St. German), a parish, in the union of St.
Germans, S. division of the hundred of East, E. division of Cornwall, 4½ miles (S. S. W.) from Devonport;
containing 800 inhabitants. It comprises 1247 acres,
of which 272 are common or waste land. Here is a
noted promontory on the shore of the English Channel,
called Rame Head, the nearest point of land to the
Eddystone lighthouse, and on which are slight remains
of the ancient chapel of St. Michael. Cawsand bay is
partly in the parish, and at the entrance of it, on Penlee point, is a beacon. The living is a rectory, valued
in the king's books at £12. 7. 6.; net income, £206;
patron, the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe.
Rampisham (St. Mary)
RAMPISHAM (St. Mary), a parish, in the union
of Beaminster, hundred of Tollerford, Dorchester
division of Dorset, 6½ miles (E.) from Beaminster;
containing 420 inhabitants. The living is a rectory,
with that of Wraxhall united, valued in the king's books
at £11. 17. 8½.; net income, £444; patrons, St. John's
College, Cambridge. The tithes of the parish have been
commuted for £198, and there are 62 acres of glebe.
Rampside, Lancaster.—See Ramsyde.
RAMPSIDE, Lancaster.—See Ramsyde.
Rampton (All Saints)
RAMPTON (All Saints), a parish, in the union of
Chesterton, hundred of Northstow, county of Cambridge, 6½ miles (N. by W.) from Cambridge; containing 194 inhabitants. The parish comprises 1311 acres.
An inclosure act was passed in 1839, and an act for
draining certain fens and low grounds in 1842. The
living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £9. 10.,
and in the patronage of Mr. Taylor: the tithes have
been commuted for £297. 6., and there are 9 acres of
glebe.
Rampton (All Saints)
RAMPTON (All Saints), a parish, in the union of
East Retford, South-Clay division of the wapentake
of Bassetlaw, N. division of the county of Nottingham, 6¾ miles (E. S. E.) from East Retford; containing
420 inhabitants. It comprises 2155a. 2r. 22p., including
232 acres of common, &c. About one-half of the district is inclosed, and has a rich clay soil; the rest consists of a common, and a large open fertile marsh protected by a strong embankment on the Trent, from
which river the village is about a mile distant. The
living is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of the
Prebendary of Rampton in the Collegiate Church of
Southwell, valued in the king's books at £10. 0. 3.: the
great tithes have been commuted for £349, and the
vicarial for £120; the glebe consists of 41 acres. The
church is a spacious and lofty structure with a high
tower, and contains several monuments to the Eyre
family. The Wesleyans have a place of worship. Here
is a curious ancient gateway, which belonged to Rampton Hall.
Ramsbottom
RAMSBOTTOM, an ecclesiastical parish, in the
parish and union of Bury, hundred of Salford, S. division of Lancashire, 4½ miles (N.) from Bury; containing 3700 inhabitants. This parish was formed in
1844, under the provisions of the act 6th and 7th Victoria, cap. 37; and is a mile and a quarter in length
and about three-quarters of a mile in breadth, being in
the township of Lower Tottington, and forming part of
the rich and beautiful valley that extends from Bury to
the vale of Rossendale. The village is rapidly increasing in buildings and population, and is likely to become,
ere long, an important town. The late Sir Robert Peel,
father of the present baronet, commenced his manufacturing career at Ramsbottom, and here acquired a large
portion of his wealth; he may, indeed, be regarded as
the founder of the place. The population is chiefly employed in cotton spinning and printing; here are the
cotton-works of Messrs. Ashton, and the cotton and
print works of Messrs. Grant, two of the largest and
wealthiest firms in Lancashire. The parish is separated
from the northern part of Walmersley township by the
river Irwell; and the East Lancashire railway has a station here. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Crown and the Bishop of Manchester,
alternately; net income, £150 per annum: first incumbent, the Rev. James Hornby Butcher. The church,
built in 1847, is a small structure in the pointed style,
with a handsome tower and spire, and is a good specimen of ecclesiastical architecture: the cost, £3000, was
raised by subscription There are places of worship for
Presbyterians, Wesleyan Methodists, Primitive Methodists, and Swedenborgians.
Ramsbury (Holy Cross)
RAMSBURY (Holy Cross), a parish, in the union
of Hungerford, hundred of Ramsbury, Marlborough
and Ramsbury, and N. divisions of Wilts, 5½ miles
(N. W. by W.) from Hungerford; containing, with the
tythings of Axford, Eastridge, and Whittonditch, 2552
inhabitants, of whom 1759 are in Ramsbury tything.
This place is of considerable antiquity, and in the beginning of the 10th century was made the seat of a diocese,
to which thirteen bishops were appointed in regular
succession. The see was afterwards annexed to that of
Sherborne in the county of Dorset, and in 1072 the
united sees were removed to Sarum. The ancient episcopal palace is still remaining near the church, with
which it had a subterraneous communication. The parish is on the river Kennet, and comprises 9741a. 3r.
34p. of land, chiefly the property of Sir R. Burdett,
Bart., whose seat, called the Manor House, contains a
valuable collection of paintings. Littlecote, the residence of General Popham, is also situated here, in an
extensive park, richly wooded, and embellished with the
windings of the Kennet; the mansion is handsome, and
has a gallery of well-executed paintings, and a large collection of ancient armour. Fairs are held on the 14th
of May for cattle and toys, and on the 11th of October
for hiring servants. The living is a vicarage, valued in
the king's books at £9. 12. 1½., and in the patronage of
the Crown; net income, £219. The great tithes have
been commuted for £374, and the small for £125: the
glebe comprises about 70 acres, with a house, erected
by the late, and enlarged and improved by the present,
incumbent. The church is ancient, with a massive tower
strengthened by buttresses, and contains many interesting details in various styles, and some handsome monuments, among which is one to Sir William Jones, formerly lord of the manor. There are places of worship
for Independents, Primitive Methodists, and Wesleyans.
About two miles from the town is a Roman encampment called Membury Fort.
Ramsdean
RAMSDEAN, a tything, in the parish and hundred
of East Meon, union of Petersfield, Petersfield and
N. divisions of the county of Southampton; containing 156 inhabitants.
Ramsden
RAMSDEN, a chapelry, in the parish of Shiptonunder-Wychwood, union of Witney, hundred of
Chadlington, county of Oxford, 3½ miles (N.) from
Witney; containing 365 inhabitants. It comprises 739
acres, of which 150 are common or waste land. The
chapel, in the later English style of architecture, is of
recent date.
Ramsdon-Bellhouse (St. Mary)
RAMSDON-BELLHOUSE (St. Mary), a parish, in
the union of Billericay, hundred of Barstable, S.
division of Essex, 4 miles (E.) from Billericay; containing 462 inhabitants. The lands of this place were held
before the Conquest, by Godric and three freemen;
and at the time of the survey, were owned by the
Bishop of London and Robert Gernon. They afterwards
formed two manors, of which that of Ramsdon-Bellhouse
has belonged to various families, among whom occur
those of Bellhouse, Knivet, Clopton, Gerard, and Downing. The manor of Ramsden-Barrington, the other of
the two, has been successively held by the families of
Barrington, Bohun, Bourchier, Devereux, and others.
The parish is intersected by the river Crouch, and comprises 2688 acres, of which 172 are common or waste;
the soil is strong and heavy, producing fair average crops.
The living is a rectory, annexed to that of Stock, and
valued in the king's books at £14: the tithes have
been commuted for £450, and there are 22 acres of
glebe. The church is small, with a tower surmounted
by a spire.
Ramsdon-Crays (St. Mary)
RAMSDON-CRAYS (St. Mary), a parish, in the
union of Billericay, hundred of Barstable, S. division of Essex, 2 miles (E. S. E.) from Billericay; containing 282 inhabitants. This place, named in Domesday book Ramesdan, belonged at the time of that survey
to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, and Ralph, brother of Ilger;
there were then two manors, which are now united and
have one manor-house. The parish comprises by computation 1199 acres, is situated on the road from London to Southend, and intersected by the river Crouch.
The soil is various, the lower part consisting of a fine
hazel mould, and the upper of a mixture of clay with
loam, forming good corn land; the parish borders on
the north upon some extensive woods and commons.
The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at
£20, and in the gift of the family of Knox: the glebe
consists of 80 acres, and the tithe rent-charge is £290.
The church is a small ancient edifice.
Ramsey (St. Michael)
RAMSEY (St. Michael), a parish, in the union
and hundred of Tendring, N. division of Essex, 3
miles (W. S. W.) from Harwich; containing 649 inhabitants. The parish is bounded by the river Stour,
here navigable for vessels of 200 tons' burthen; and is
indented by a narrow creek, over which is a bridge on
the road to Harwich. It comprises 3212a. 7p., whereof
2559 acres are arable and meadow, 250 marsh, 230
saltings, 150 wood, and 21 in lawns. The surface in
some parts is considerably elevated; and of the large
tract of marshy land, a great portion has been reclaimed
from the sea, and is protected by an embankment. The
village, called Ramsey-street, is situated on the west
side of the creek; a fair is held in it on the 15th of
June. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the
king's books at £15, and in the patronage of the Crown;
income, £200; impropriator, N. Garland, Esq. The
church is a neat edifice, with a tower of stone. There is
a place of worship for Wesleyans; also a school, founded
by Thomas Duval, in 1771, and the income of which is
£14 per annum.
Ramsey (St. Thomas à Becket)
RAMSEY (St. Thomas à Becket), a market-town
and parish, in the hundred of Hurstingstone, union
and county of Huntingdon, 10 miles (N. N. E.) from
Huntingdon, and 68½ (N. by W.) from London; containing 3680 inhabitants. A mitred abbey of Benedictine monks, of great magnificence, was founded here
in 969, by Ailwine, alderman of all England, and duke
or earl of the East Angles; it was dedicated to St.
Mary and St. Benedict, and the revenue at the Dissolution was valued at £1983. 15. 3. The site is now
occupied by a private residence, partially consisting of
the remains of the ancient fabric; the gateway is in a
fine state of preservation. The town is situated at the
bottom of a hill, on Bury brook; the market is on
Wednesday; and a fair takes place on July 22nd, for
cattle and toys. A manorial court leet, at which a constable is appointed, is held in May or June. The parish
comprises by computation 16,000 acres, of which about
one-third is arable, and the remainder pasture, with the
exception of 2000 acres of fen land, used for cutting turf,
and growing sedge; the surface is exceedingly flat on
the verge of the fens, and the soil generally rich. The
living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £47; patron
and impropriator, Edward Fellowes, Esq., whose tithes
have been commuted for £648. 2. 10. The church is
partly Norman, and partly in the early English style.
Here are places of worship for Independents, Baptists,
Primitive Methodists, Ranters, and Wesleyans. Various
benefactions in land were made for the support of a free
school and a spinning school, but owing to frequent
inundations, the school-house became ruinous, and the
institution declined: about forty years since, however,
the land was drained, and a new school-house and
dwelling for the master were erected. The rental of
the fen land is £227; the spinning school, for 50 girls,
has an income of £34. 10. There is a poor-fund of
about £52 a year.
Ramsgate (St. George)
RAMSGATE (St.
George), a sea-port, market-town, and parish, in the
cinque-port liberty of Sandwich, of which it is a member, union of the Isle of
Thanet, locally in the hundred of Ringslow, or Isle
of Thanet, lathe of St. Augustine, E. division of Kent,
4½ miles (S.) from Margate,
17 (E. N. E.) from Canterbury, and 72 (E.) from London; containing 10,909 inhabitants. This place was a hamlet in the parish of St.
Laurence until the 21st of June, 1827, at which period
it was constituted a distinct parish, of 307 acres, by an
act of parliament. It is said in the maritime survey of
Kent in the reign of Elizabeth, to have contained 25
houses; and when Leland wrote his Itinerary, it was
protected from the sea by a small wooden pier, which
had existed from time immemorial, and for the maintenance of which the merchants of London paid dues by
order of Henry VII. In 1688, the inhabitants commenced trading with Russia. From this period the
buildings increased, and Ramsgate is now a town of
importance, celebrated as a watering-place of considerable resort, and particularly distinguished for its harbour, which was commenced in 1749, under an act
passed in the 22nd of George II. On the 25th of September 1821, George IV. embarked hence for Calais, in
his progress to Hanover; and on the 8th of the following November, landed here, on his return, to commemorate which event, the inhabitants, trustees of the
harbour, and visiters, erected an obelisk at the entrance
of the pier on the land side. Townley House, for several seasons the residence of Her Majesty when Princess
Victoria, and of the Duchess of Kent, is now a ladies'
boarding-school.
Seal of the Trustees of the Harbour.
The town is beautifully situated on the declivity of a
hill opening southward to the sea, and commands from
many points very extensive views, embracing in clear
weather the French coast. The recent buildings are
generally handsome edifices, and amongst those which
more particularly embellish the town may be mentioned,
Albion Place, Sion Hill, and Nelson, Wellington, and
Royal crescents, with numerous villas. In 1835, a
company was incorporated by act of parliament, for
supplying the parish and neighbourhood with water;
and a reservoir, with the requisite works, was formed.
The town is paved, lighted with gas, and watched,
under an act obtained in 1838. On the grounds of
Mount Albion House, a new square and several streets,
with a promenade fronting the sea, were laid out in the
same year. To the east of the harbour, in front of a
range of chalk cliffs, and on a beach of soft reddish
sand, are the Royal Victoria baths; and on the west
cliff, 100 feet above the level of the sea, are the Royal
Kent warm sea-water baths, constructed of white marble.
There are well-conducted assemblies, also two good
public libraries; and the boarding and lodging houses
are generally of a superior kind. A literary and scientific institution was established in 1835, under the
patronage of Queen Adelaide and the Duchess of Kent.
The rides and walks in the vicinity are pleasant, but the
principal and most attractive promenade is the pier.
The harbour was commenced under the direction of
Mr. Smeaton, and after his death, the completion of the
undertaking was intrusted to Mr. Rennie, and subsequently to his son and successor, Sir John Rennie.
The pier, which forms the harbour, is built principally
of Purbeck and Portland stone, and latterly of Cornish
granite, and for extent is unequalled by any in the
kingdom. It projects 800 feet into the sea before
making an angle, and, including the parapet, is 26 feet
broad at the top; the front presents a polygon, each
side of which is 450 feet long. The eastern arm of the
pier extends 2000 feet, and the western 1550. The
harbour covers an area of 48 acres, and is 200 feet wide
at the mouth, across which the tide was formerly found
to run so rapidly in tempestuous weather, as to render
it dangerous for vessels entering; the eastern pier was
in consequence lengthened 400 feet to the south west. In
the upper part of the harbour is a basin capable of containing 200 vessels, the gates of which being shut at
high and opened at low water, the stream carries away
any drifted mud or sand, and keeps clear a channel
under the curve of the eastern pier. This channel is
sufficiently wide to admit four vessels abreast, with a
depth of water of from 15 to 16 feet at neap tides, and
from 20 to 22 feet at spring tides, enabling vessels of
300 tons' burthen to enter at all times, and much larger
ones at spring tides. The harbour annually affords
shelter to about 1400 vessels, the greater part of which
are blown, or run, from the Downs in bad weather. On
the western pier-head is a lighthouse. To defray the
expenses of the establishment, certain dues are collected
from British vessels passing the harbour to or from
foreign parts; and coasters which do not belong to
similar establishments in the ports of Dover, LymeRegis, Melcombe-Regis, Sandwich, Weymouth, and
Great Yarmouth, pay an annual rate: foreign vessels
also, if entering or passing the harbour, and bound to
or touching at any English port, are liable to the payment of dues. All legal proceedings are carried on in
the name of the deputy master of the Trinity House.
The harbour affords great convenience to the different
steam-packets that arrive, the inner landing being accessible to them at all times of the tide. It has also a dry
dock, which is public property; and as there is no port
on either side of the Channel, between Sheerness and
Portsmouth, where large steam-vessels can dock and
repair, the trustees have formed a patent-slip for larger
vessels than the dock can accommodate. A railway
was opened to Canterbury and Ashford in April 1846,
and subsequently a line to Margate: the station here is
a light and handsome edifice, on the north side of the
town.
The business of the place, which has been greatly
improved by the construction of the harbour, principally
consists of a large coasting-trade, particularly in coal;
and the importation of timber from the Baltic, which
was for some time discontinued, is at present reviving.
A considerable fishery is carried on off the coast by
large vessels from the westward; the choice fish are
chiefly sent to the London market. Several small vessels belonging to the port are similarly engaged, and are
also often employed in rendering assistance to vessels
in distress, particularly to those wrecked on the Goodwin sands, which lie about three miles and a half southeast-by-east from this place. Here are two spacious
yards for ship-building, some rope-walks, and warehouses furnishing every description of stores for the
shipping. The market is on Wednesday and Saturday,
and is frequently attended by French people bringing
over fruit and other articles. About 20,000 chests of
eggs are annually imported, and shipped off for the
London market in the Ramsgate hoys, thus escaping
the river pilotage and other dues. Ramsgate being a
member of the port of Sandwich, the mayor of that
place appoints his deputy, who acts here as constable;
the town is also under the jurisdiction of the magistrates
appointed agreeably with an act obtained in 1812, for
the liberties of the cinque-ports. The powers of the
county debt-court of Ramsgate, established in 1847,
extend over part of the registration-district of Thanet.
A salvage court is held when required.
The living is a vicarage, not in charge; net income,
£400; patron and appropriator, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The church is a handsome edifice, built at an
expense of £27,000, towards defraying which the Parliamentary Commissioners granted £9000; it contains
2000 sittings, of which 800 are free. The foundation
stone of a church called Christ Church was laid by
J. P. Plumptre, Esq., in Aug. 1846, and the edifice was
consecrated in 1847; it is in the early English style, with
a lofty tower and spire, contains 1000 sittings, and cost
about £5300. In Chapel-place is a chapel, the living of
which is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the
Vicar. Cavendish chapel, erected in 1840, displays a
compound of Saxon and Norman, with some slight admixture of the pointed style; the seats rise one above
another, as in a lecture-room: it is capable of holding
1400 persons, and cost about £4000. There are places
of worship for Baptists, Independents, Wesleyans, Calvinists, and Unitarians; and on the road to Broadstairs
is a Jewish synagogue, with a house for the minister,
both erected by Sir Moses Montefiore, Knt. A charity
school, founded in 1779, and to which George Phillips,
Esq., bequeathed £200 in 1817, is now conducted on
the national plan; and a spacious building has been
erected for it in Chapel-place.
Ramsgrave
RAMSGRAVE, a township, in the ecclesiastical district of Mellor, parish, union, and Lower division of
the hundred, of Blackburn, N. division of the county
of Lancaster, 2¾ miles (N. W. by N.) from Blackburn,
on the road to Whalley; containing 453 inhabitants.
In the reign of Edward III., Henry, Duke of Lancaster,
gave to the monks of Whalley certain lands and tenements here, including 183 acres of pasture, and 200 of
wood. The township now belongs to various persons;
the land is chiefly freehold. The ancient Hall is a
farmhouse.
Ramsholt (All Saints)
RAMSHOLT (All Saints), a parish, in the union of
Woodbridge, hundred of Wilford, E. division of
Suffolk, 6 miles (S. S. E.) from Woodbridge; containing 192 inhabitants. The parish comprises about 1600
acres; and the navigable river Deben runs on the west,
where is a dock. The living is a perpetual curacy, in
the gift of the Pennington family, with a net income of
£17: the great tithes have been commuted for £453,
and there are 16 acres of impropriate glebe. The church
is an ancient edifice with a round tower. Here are
some remains of Peyton Hall, the original seat of the
Ufford family.
Ramshope
RAMSHOPE, an extra-parochial district, in the
union of Bellingham, S. division of Coquetdale
ward, N. division of Northumberland, 16¼ miles (N.
N. W.) from Bellingham; containing 8 inhabitants.
This wild region is separated from Scotland by CarterFell, a mountainous ridge rising 1602 feet above the
level of the sea. The Redeswire, a less stupendous barrier, extending from the former to Houndlaw, was the
spot where, in 1400, Sir Robert Umfraville gained a
victory over the Scots. It was also the scene, in 1575,
of a warm conflict between the English warden and the
Scottish warden, in which the former, who was the
aggressor, being defeated and taken prisoner, was conveyed, with several of the border chieftains, to Dalkeith:
the old ballad, "the Battle of Reid Squair," was founded
upon the affray. Ramshope comprises by measurement
1467 acres of pasture land.
Ramshorn
RAMSHORN, a township, in the parish of Ellastone, S. division of the hundred of Totmonslow,
N. division of the county of Stafford, 5¾ miles (E. N. E.)
from Cheadle; containing 142 inhabitants. This is a
township of scattered houses, having a hamlet situated
on an eminence, and including Wootton Lodge, a mansion romantically seated in the vale of Weaver, and surrounded by a park.
Ramsyde, or Rampside
RAMSYDE, or Rampside, a chapelry, in the parish
of Dalton-in-Furness, union of Ulverston, hundred
of Lonsdale north of the Sands, N. division of Lancashire, 5¼ miles (S. by E.) from the town of Dalton;
containing 561 inhabitants. This place is delightfully
situated at the southern extremity of the large peninsula
formed by the Irish Sea on the west side, and Morecambe bay on the east; it is resorted to for sea-bathing,
for which there is ample, though not elegant, accommodation, at very moderate expense. Opposite to Ramsyde is Pile or Peel Harbour, a commodious port,
protected by Walney Island on the south-west, and
where a first-rate ship of war may float at low water.
By an act of the 6th of Her present Majesty, John Abel
Smith, Esq., was authorised to construct a pier or jetty
from Ramsyde to Roe Island, and thence into Pile Harbour, with the necessary wharfs and works for the convenience of shipping and of passengers. The Furness
railway was opened in June 1846; it is 14 miles in
length, and runs from Pile Harbour, by Ramsyde, past
the town of Dalton to Kirkby-Ireleth, where the Whitehaven railway commences. The chapel, standing on an
eminence, is a neat whitewashed structure, lately built,
and in the later English style, with a tower: the living
is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Vicar of
Dalton; net income, £100. A national school has been
established.
The Pile (of Fouldrey) is a rocky island, of a few
acres, about a mile to the north of the lighthouse on the
isle of Walney. Here, according to Camden, one of
the abbots of Furness built a castle, in the first year of
the reign of Edward III., to guard the entrance to the
harbour; the castle was probably intended also as a
retreat for the monks and their vassals on the approach
of an enemy, and as a place of security for their effects
against the Scotch invaders. The strength and magnitude of the structure prove how ample were the means
of the monastic institution by which it was built. In
the Burghley Papers, temp. Elizabeth, it is stated that
"betweene Mylford Haven in Wales, and Carhill on the
borders of Scotlande, ther is not one good haven for
greate shyppes to lond or ryde in, but one, whiche is in
the furthest part of Lancashire, called the Pylle of Folder;" and it is added, that "the same pylle is an old
decayed castell of the dowchie of Lancaster, in Furnes
Felles." The period when the castle was reduced to
ruins is not well ascertained; but it was probably one
of the fortresses that fell under the dismantling ordinances of the Commonwealth. Great part of the ruins
have been washed away by the sea, and the falling walls
only are now to be seen, in solitary grandeur above the
waters between Walney lighthouse and the shore at Old
Garth below Ramsyde.
Ranby (St. German)
RANBY (St. German), a parish, in the union of
Horncastle, N. division of the wapentake of Gartree,
parts of Lindsey, county of Lincoln, 7 miles (N. by
W.) from Horncastle; containing 116 inhabitants. It
comprises about 1200 acres, and is intersected by the
old Roman road from Horncastle to Caistor. The estate
was forfeited by the family of Dicconson, at the time of
the Gunpowder Plot; but was afterwards restored to
them. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king's
books at £4. 13. 4., and has a net income of £86; the
patronage and impropriation belong to Miss A. Otter.
The church is a neat structure, lately repaired and
beautified.
Rand (St. Oswald)
RAND (St. Oswald), a parish, in the W. division of
the wapentake of Wraggoe, parts of Lindsey, union
and county of Lincoln, 2 miles (W. N. W.) from
Wragby; containing, with the chapelry of Fulnetby,
147 inhabitants. This parish, which is intersected by
the road from Lincoln to Horncastle, comprises about
1000 acres. The living is a rectory, valued in the
king's books at £8. 5.; net income, £402; patrons,
W. Wyld and J. Hall, Esqrs. There are 3 acres of
glebe, with a house, rebuilt in 1834. The church is a
plain edifice with a tower, and contains several ancient
monuments.
Rands-Grange
RANDS-GRANGE, a hamlet, in the parish and
union of Bedale, wapentake of Hang-East, N. riding
of York, 1 mile (N. W.) from the town of Bedale; containing 12 inhabitants, and comprising 344a. 3r. of land.
It was formerly extra-parochial.
Randwick (St. John)
RANDWICK (St. John), a parish, in the union of
Stroud, Upper division of the hundred of Whitstone,
E. division of the county of Gloucester, 1 mile (N. W.
by W.) from Stroud; containing 979 inhabitants. This
was anciently part of the parish of Thornbury; the first
notice of it as a parish is in the reign of Edward III.
It comprises by measurement about 590 acres, besides
land in Standish Park: the pasture consists of rich
loam, the arable is light and stony; the surface, for the
most part, is hilly, and there are some fine plantations
of beech and larch. The summit of the hill on the slope
of which the village stands, called Randwick-Ash, commands a beautiful view of the river Severn, of Wales,
and the surrounding counties. The Stroud canal passes
through the southern part of the parish. Oolite stone
is quarried for building purposes. The living is a perpetual curacy; patron, the Vicar of Standish; appropriator, the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. The
rectorial tithes have been commuted for £84, and those
of the incumbent for £72: there are 56 acres of glebe.
The church was considerably improved a few years
since, and a new chancel was built by Lord Sherborne.
There are places of worship for Wesleyans and the Connexion of the Countess of Huntingdon. A national
school is endowed with about £40 per annum. On a
hill called The Castles are traces of an ancient settlement, supposed, from the discovery of a burial-vault of
stone, containing human remains, to be of Saxon origin;
and in many parts of the parish have been found small
balls of stone, rudely turned, indicative of some battle
having been fought in the neighbourhood. The petrifaction termed by geologists calcareous tufa abounds, and
the ancient porch of the church is constructed of it.
The late Professor White, of Oxford, was born near
Randwick.
Rangeworthy
RANGEWORTHY, a chapelry, in the parish, union,
and Lower division of the hundred, of Thornbury,
W. division of the county of Gloucester, 3¾ miles
(S. W. by W.) from Wickwar; containing 353 inhabitants. This chapelry, which comprises by computation
600 acres, is situated on the road from Wotton-underEdge, through Cromhall, to Bristol; and the railroad
from Gloucester to Bristol runs within a mile of the
village. The manufacture of hats employs a few hands.
The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £80; patron, the Vicar of Thornbury; appropriators, the Dean
and Canons of Christ-Church, Oxford. The chapel,
dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is a small edifice with a
Norman south door. There are places of worship for
Independents and Wesleyans.
Ranscliff, or Ravenscliff
RANSCLIFF, or Ravenscliff, a township, in the
ecclesiastical district of Tunstall, parish of Wolstanton, union of Wolstanton and Burslem, N. division
of the hundred of Pirehill and of the county of Stafford, 3 miles (N. W.) from Burslem; containing 967
inhabitants. The township contains 375 acres, and
abounds with coal and ironstone, which are worked to a
considerable extent. The population are principally
seated at the village of Kidsgrove, of which the greater
part is in this township.—See Kidsgrove.
Ranskill
RANSKILL, a township, in the parish of Blyth,
union of East Retford, Hatfield division of the wapentake of Bassetlaw, N. division of the county of Nottingham, 3¾ miles (S.) from Bawtry; containing 333
inhabitants, and comprising 1265 acres. The village is
pleasantly situated on the great north road: the common
was inclosed in 1805. There is a place of worship for
Independents.
Ranston
RANSTON, a tything, in the parish of IwerneCourtnay, union of Blandford, hundred of Redlane, Sturminster division of the county of Dorset;
containing 39 inhabitants.
Ranvills
RANVILLS, a tything, in the parish of RomseyExtra, union of Romsey, hundred of King's-Sombourn, Romsey and S. divisions of the county of
Southampton; containing 100 inhabitants.
Ranworth (St. Helen)
RANWORTH (St. Helen), a parish, in the union of
Blofield, hundred of Walsham, E. division of Norfolk, 4 miles (N. W.) from Acle; containing 290 inhabitants. The parish comprises 1865 acres, and contains
several lakes, from one of which a canal has been cut
to the navigable river Bure. The living is a discharged
vicarage, with that of Upton united, valued in the king's
books at £4; patron and appropriator, the Bishop of
Ely. The rectorial tithes have been commuted for
£227. 16., and the vicarial for £132; there are 10 acres
of glebe. The church, chiefly in the later English style,
consists of a nave and chancel, with a lofty embattled
tower, and contains six ancient stalls. There is a place
of worship for Baptists.
Rapps
RAPPS, a tything, in the parish of Broadway,
union of Chard, hundred of Abdick and Bulstone,
W. division of Somerset; with 25 inhabitants.