Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/318

Rh RENDHAM. 306 RENFREWSHIRE. 8 S.W. of Northleach The village, which is of small extent, is chiefly agricultural. The soil is of a loamy nature, upon a subsoil of freestone. The Berkeley hounds meet in this parish. The tithes have been com- muted for a rent-charge of 440, and the glebe com- prises 24 acres. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Gloucester and Bristol, val. 373. The church, dedi- cated to St. Peter, is an ancient stone structure with a tower containing six bells. The parochial charities pro- duce about 3 per annum. Eendcombe Park is the prin- cipal residence. Sir W. V. Guise, Bart., is lord of the manor and principal landowner. BENDHAM, a par. in the hund. of Plomesgate, co. Suffolk, 2J miles N.W. of Saxmundham, its post town, and 5 from Framlingham. The village, which is of small extent, ia situated on a branch of the river Aide, and is chiefly agricultural. The impropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 411, and the vica- rial for one of 100, and the glebe consists of 15 acres. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 96, in the patron, of trustees. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is an ancient edifice with a tower containing five bells. The interior of the church was restored in 1852. The roof is of carved oak, as is also the pulpit, which bears date 1632. There is also a piscina of great antiquity. The parochial charities produce about 9 per annum. There is a school for both sexes, erected in 1841, the expense being defrayed by voluntary con- tributions. The Independents have a place of worship, with a burial-ground and minister's residence adjoining. John Crabtree, Esq., is lord of the manor. RENDLESHAM, a par. in the hund. of Loes, co. Suffolk, 3 miles S.W. of Wickham-Market, its post town, and 4J N.E. of Woodbridge. The village, which is small and irregularly built, was formerly a market town. In the Saxon times, it was the seat of Eedwald and other East Anglian kings. After the Norman conquest it was held by Fitz-Otho, from whom it passed to the Furneux, Spencers, Hamiltons, and other families, and subse- quently to the Thellussons, to whom it gives the title of baron in the Irish peerage. The tithes have been com- muted for a rent-charge of 480, and there are 53 acres of glebe. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 380, in the patron, of the_ crown. The church, dedi- cated to St. Gregory, is an ancient structure with a tower. The interior contains monuments to the Eendlesham family. The register dates from 1681. The parochial charities produce about 13 per annum. There is a free school, chiefly supported by Lord Rendlesham, who is lord of the manor. Rendlesham Hall is the principal residence. Dr. Leonard Maws, Bishop of Bath and Wells, was born here. Camden states that an ancient Saxon crown was dug up here, weighing about 60 ounces, but was sold and melted down. RENFIELD, a quoad sacra par. in the par. of Barony, lower ward, co. Lanark, Scotland, adjoining Glasgow, of which it is a suburb. RENFREW, a par., post and market town, royal and parliamentary burgh, in the upper ward of co. Renfrew (of which it is the county town), Scotland, 3 miles N.E. of Paisley, 6 W. of Glasgow, and 50 from Edinburgh. It is the terminus of the Paisley and Renfrew branch of the Glasgow and South Western railway, and a sub- port to Glasgow, having a wharf on the Clyde, at which the river steamers call in their transit up and down the river. The parish, which lies on the northern border of Renfrewshire, is bounded by the counties of Dumbarton and Lanark, and by the parishes of Abbey-of- Paisley, Inchinnan, and Kilbarchan. It is irregular in outline, lying on both sides of the river Clyde, which is here crossed by a chain ferry to Yocker. The extreme length of the parish from N.E. to S.W is 6 miles, with a breadth of 1 miles. The rivers White Cart and Black Cart traverse the western boundary on their course northward to join the Clyde, and are crossed at their confluence by a bridge. The surface on the left bank of the Clyde is nearly level, forming part of an extensive plain ; but on the right bank it is undulating, being varied by several swells and low conical hills, which, however, never attain an elevation of 200 feet above sea-level. The soil is mostly a deep alluvial loam, upon a subsoil of boulder clay, carboniferous limestone, coal, and trap rock. The land is wholly under cultiva- tion, and is the property of seven principal landownei's. The chief seats are Blythswood, Elderslie, Jordanhill, Abbotsinch, Scotstown, and Walkingshaw. The old seat of the Stewarts, which once stood on Castle Hill, is entirely demolished ; but the adjoining lands still bear the names of " the Orchard " and " the King's Meadow." The office of high steward of Scotland was first conferred on Walter, laird of Renfrew, by David I., from which circumstance the family took the surname of Stewart. Tradition relates that at the Hill of Knock, in this parish, the Lady Marjory Bruce, daughter of King Robert Bruce, and wife of Walter le Steward, was killed by a fall from her horse in 1316, when far advanced in pregnancy, but that the life of the child being saved, he eventually succeeded to the Scottish throne as Robert II. It was here that Somerled, lord of the isles, who had risen in rebellion against Malcolm IV., was defeated and slain by Angus in 1164 ; and at the bridge of Inch- innan the Earl of Argyle was defeated and taken prisoner in 1685. The town of Renfrew, which consists chiefly of one long narrow street, stands about half a mile from the left bank of the Clyde. Most of its houses are small, and some are old-fashioned thatched buildings with gable-ends ; but in the environs the houses are superior, including a number of villas and cottages. At the cross near the W. end stands the town-house and gaol. It contains an Athenaeum, with a public library attached, a branch office of the western bank of Scotland, gas- works, and the Blythswood testimonial, erected in 1842 by subscription, in honour of the late Archibald Campbell, Esq., of Blythswood, and appropriated to the use of the grammar school, founded by charter of James VI., in 1614. On the banks of the Clyde are wharves and ship- building yards ; and in the immediate vicinity of the town are bleachfields, starch works, collieries, tile works, a pottery, and an extensive distillery at the hamlet of Yocker, on the right bank of the Clyde. The inhabi- tants are chiefly engaged in the salmon fishery, boat- building yards, in the weaving of silks and muslins, and in the making of starch. The commerce mainly consists in the importation of grain, fish, dye stuffs, and colonial produce ; and in the export of coal, potatoes, and agricultural produce. The burgh, which was first chartered by Robert III., in 1396, is governed under the late Act by a provost, two bailies, a treasurer, dean of guild, and seven councillors. Its revenue is about 3,500. The burgh court is held every Saturday, and a court of quarter sessions on the first Tuesdays in March, May, and August, and on the last Tuesday in October. It is contributory to Kilmarnock and three other burghs in returning one member to parliament. The population of the parliamentary burghin 1851 was 2, 722, and in 1861, 3,228, and the constituency in 1856 was 103. This par. is in the presb. of Paisley and synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and in the patron, of the crown. The minister has a stipend of 332 6s. 8rf., besides a glebe, val. 55. The parish church is an ancient structure, enlarged in 1726, and repaired in 1820. There is a Free church, also several private schools, besides the burgh grammar school mentioned above. From this place the Prince of Wales takes the title of baron. Market day is Saturday. Fairs are held on the third Tuesdays in May and July, second Friday in June, 29th September, third Friday of October, and'first Friday in December. RENFREWSHIRE, a co., partly maritime and partly inland, in the W. of Scotland. It lies between 55 40' and 55 58' N. lat., and between 4 14' and 40 64' W. long. It is bounded on the E. and N.E. by Lanarkshire, on the S. by Ayrshire, on the W. by the Frith of Clyde, which separates it from Argyle, and on the N. by the Clyde, which separates it from Dum- bartonshire, except a small district in the parish of Renfrew, which lies on the right bank of the Clyde. The form of the county is an irregular oblong, having its greatest length about 32 miles from Clogh Point in