Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/331

Rh RICKERSCOTE. 319 RIDGACRE. RICKERSOOTE, a tnshp. in the par. of Castle- Church, co. Stafford, 2 miles S.E. of Stafford. It is situated on the Grand Junction railway, and near the confluence of the rivers Penk and Stow, and is dis- tinguished for its spa. The Worcester canal passes near this township. The lowlands, which are mostly in pasturage, have been much improved by drainage and embankments. RICKHAM, a hmlt. in the par. of Portsmouth, co. Devon, 4 miles S.E. of Kingsbridge. It is a coast- guard station. RICKINGHALL-INFERIOR, a par. in the hund. of Blackbourn, co. Suffolk, 7 miles S.W. of Diss, 6 W. of Mellis railway station, and a quarter of a mile S.W. of liotesdale, its post town. The village, which is of small extent, is wholly agricultural. The road from Bury St. Edmund's to Norwich runs through the vil- lage. The tithes of the two parishes, Inferior and Superior, have been commuted for a rent-charge of 1,040 ; and the glebe contains 24 acres. The living is a rect. * consolidated with that of Rickinghall-Superior, in the dioc. of Norwich, joint val. 850. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient edifice with a circular tower, the npper part of which is octagonal. The parochial charities produce about 33 per annum. There is a National school. The Baptists and Wesleyans have each a place of worship. G. H. Wilson, Esq., is lord of the manor. RICKINGHALL-SUPERIOR, a par. in the hund. of Hartismere, co. Suffolk, 7 miles S.W. of Diss, 8 N.E. of Ixworth, and three-quarters of a mile S.W. of Botes- dalo, its post town. The village, which is situated on the road from Norwich to Bury St. Edmund's, is wholly agricultural. The glebe consists of 15 acres. The living is a rect. annexed to that of Rickinghall- In'ferior, in the dioc. of Norwich, joint val. 850. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, ia an ancient structure with a square embattled tower, and has a remarkable 8. porch. The parochial charities produce about 33 per annum. G. H. Wilson, Esq., is lord of the manor. There is a National school for girls. RICKLING, a par. in the hund. of Uttlesford, co. Essex, 6 miles N. of Bishop's Stortford, its post town, and 2 S.W. of Newport. The village is situated near the Cambridge railway, and on the road to Newmarket. It ia chiefly agricultural. Rickling once belonged to King Harold. The land is partly in common and pas- ture, but the greater part is arable. The great tithes have boon commuted for a rent-charge of 275, with a glebe of 17 acres, and the vicarial for i'124, with a glebe of 6 acres. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Rochester, val. 168, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to All Saints, has a tower containing five bells. It contains several interesting monuments. The parochial charities 'produce about 5 per annum. There is a National school. The Independents have a place of worship. Rickling Hall, which is of great antiquity, is a quadrangular embattled structure, with a lofty gateway tower. Colonel Inglis is lord of the manor. RICKMANSWORTH, a par. and post town in the hund. of Cashio, or lib. of St. Alban's, co. Herts, 4 miles S.W. of Watford, and 18 N.W. of London. It is a station on a branch line of the North Western railway. It is situated on the Grand Junction canal, at the confluence of the rivers Chess and Gadewith the Colne. The par., which is very extensive, comprises, besides the town of Rickmansworth, the hmlts. of Batchworth, Mill End, Croxley Green, and the chplries. of Chorley Wood and West Hyde. Rickmansworth was formerley called Richmereswearth or Rykemeres- wearth, signifying " the rich-moor meadow," and was given by King Offa of Mercia to St. Albau's abbey, which retained it till the Dissolution, after which it was held by Biskops Ridley and Bonner. In the reign of Elizabeth it reverted to the crown, and ultimately passed into the hands of the Fothorleys and Whitfields. Tho town, which is well built, and was formerly a market town, is lighted with gas, and contains many villas. Its proximity to London renders it a desirable place of residence. A portion of the inhabitants are engaged in straw-plaiting, and in the manufacture of horsehair seating for chaiis. There are several silk, paper, and corn mills; also an extensive brewery. A singular echo occurs at Warren Hill. The rivers in the vicinity are noted for trout, and the town is much resorted to by anglers. The cultivation of watorcresses for the London market ia extensively carried on. Tho great tithes have been commuted for a rout-charge of 1,385, and the vicarial for 600, besides a glebe of 108 acres, valued at 200. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Rochester, val. 510, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, has been recently rebuilt, with the exception of its embattled tower. It has a painted E. window of ancient glass, formerly belonging to the church of St. John at Rouen, but pre- sented by the late Vicar of Rickmansworth. It con- tains tombs of Lord Gary, the Fotherluys, Coltes, Saltes, and Earles of Moor House ; also a brass of T. Day, bearing date 1585. The register dates from 1571. In addition to the parish church are the following district churches, viz. St. Thomas's at West Hyde, and Christ Church at Chorley Wood, the livings of which are perpet. curs., val. 100 and 10 respectively. Tho parochial charities produce about 60 per annum, besides Fotherley's almshouscs. There are National and infant schools. The Baptists and Wesleyans have each a place of worship. Moor Park, which is the principal residence, was formerly the seat of Cardinal Wolscy and of the Duke of Monmouth. There is a cemetery in the neighbourhood. Fairs for cattle are held on the 20th July and 24th November, and a statute fair on the Saturday prior to the third Monday in September. RIDDELLS QUARTER, a tnshp. in the par. of Long Horsley, W. div. of Morpeth ward, co. North- umberland, 6 miles N.W. of Morpeth. Tho inhabitants are chiefly employed in the collieries and lime pits. BIDDINGS- WITII-IRONVILLE, a manufacturing and market town and ecclesiastical district in the par. of Alfreton, hund. of Scarsdale, co. Derby, 2J miles S.E. of Alfreton, its post town. It is situated near Butterley Park. Tho inhabitants are chiefly engaged in the iron and coal mines. In the town are extensive iron-works, forges, and furnaces, for smelting iron-ore. Tho new line of road from Manchester to Nottingham, and a branch of the Cromford canal, pass through this place, which has rapidly increased within the last half- century. The population in 1861 was 4,145. Tho living is a perpet. cur.* with the cur. of Somercotes annexed, in the dioc. of Lichfield, val. 150, in the patron, of the Vicar of Alfreton. The church, dedicated to St. James, was erected in 1830, the cost of which was partly defrayed by subscription, and partly by the par- liamentary commissioners. There are places of wor- ship for Baptists, Independents, and Wesleyans. RIDDLESDEN, a hmlt. in the par. of Bingley, wap. of Upper Skyrack, West Riding co. York, 2 miles from Bingley, and 31 S.W. of York. It is situated on the Leeds and Liverpool canal, near the river Airo. RIDDLESWORTH, a par. in the hund. of Guilt- Cross, co. Norfolk, 6 miles E. of Thetford, its post town, and 6 S. of the Harling Road railway station. Tho village, which is of small extent, is situated on the border of Suffolk, near the rivers. Wavcney and Little Ouse. It is wholly agricultural. The tithes have been commuted for a rent- charge of 116, and the glebe comprises 15 acres. The living is a rect.* with that of Gasthorpe united, in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 212. Tho church, dedicated to St. Peter, is an ancient struc- ture with an embattled tower. In the chancel is a monument to Sir D. Drury. Riddlesworth Hall, the principal residence, is situated in an extensive park. R1DDOCK, a shoal between Stromness and Graemsay, West Orkney Islands, coast of Scotland. RIDGACRE, a tnshp. in the par. of Halesowen, hund. of Brimstree, co. Worcester, 4 miles E. of Stour- bridge, and 8 S.W. of Birmingham. The village, which is considerable, is situated in the vale of the