Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/355

Rh EOOTSTOWN. 343 HOSCOMMON ficd with woodland and plantations. The soil is tolerably fertile. The tithes have been commuted for a rent- charge of 600, and the glebe comprises 63 acres. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of llochester, val. 500. The church, dedicated to St. Martin, has a square em- battled tower containing five bells, and surmounted by a lofty spire, visible from a considerable distance. The register dates from 1547. There is a National school. The charities produce 6 per annum. ROOTSTOWN, a vil. in the bar. of Ardee, cp. Louth, Ireland, 2 miles N.E. of Ardee. There are ruins of an old castle. ROPE, a tnshp. in the par. of Wybunbury, hund. of Nantwich, co. Chester, 2J miles N.E. of Nantwich, its post town. The village is 'small and wholly agricultural. ROPLEY, a par. in the lower half div. of Bishop's- Sutton hund., co. Hants, 4 miles E. of New Alresford, its post town. The parish, which is large, is wholly agricultural. It is a meet for Mr. Scotland's harriers. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 240, and the globe comprises 7 acres. The living is a cur. annexed to the vie.* of Bishop's Sutton, in the dioc. of Winchester. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, has a wooden tower containing five bells. It is an ancient structure, but was restored and enlarged in 1848. There is a National school for this parish and that of Bishop's Sutton. Dr. Sutton, Archbishop of Canterbury, was born in this parish. ROPSLEY, a par. in the wap. of Winnibriggs, parts of Kesteven, co. Lincoln, 6 miles S.E. of Grantham, its post town, and 5 N.E. of Great Ponton railway station. The village, which is large, is chiefly agricultural. The par. includes the hmlt. of Little Humby. The Duke of Rutland's hounds are kennelled in this parish. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 910. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is an ancient structure, with a spired tower containing two bells. The paro- chial charities produce about 20 per annum, exclusive of the interest of 28 left in 1795 by an unknown donor. There is an endowed free school for both sexes. The Wesleyan Methodists have a place of worship. Dr. Fox, Bishop of Winchester, was a native of Kopsley. The Duke of Rutland is lord of the manor and chief landowner. RORRINGTON, a tnshp. in the par. of Chirbury, co. Salop, 14 miles S.W. of Shrewsbury. ROSALUCHA, a vil. in the bar. of Musketry, co. Cork, Ireland, 12 miles N.W. of Dunmanway. It is situated in the mountains near the source of the Lee. ROSBEG, a sandbank in Dublin Bay, a quarter of a mile S.W. of Howth lighthouse. ROSBERCON, a par. in the bar. of Ida, co. Kilkenny, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, near New Ross, its post town. It extends along the W. bank of the river Barrow, which is here crossed by a wooden bridge connecting this place with New Ross. The village was once chartered as a borough, but is now incorporated with New Ross. It 8 a chief police station and a petty sessions town, con- taining a distillery, tannery, and several factories. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Ossory, val. with others IMS. The Roman Catholic chapel is the head of a union. There are two private schools, and a Sunday- school. There are ruins of the abbey which was founded hero in tho 13th century by the Graces and Walshes, and given at the Dissolution to the Parkers. Fairs are held on Easter and Whit Mondays, the 2nd and 23rd May, 10th August, and 5th and 18th October. ROSCLOGHER, a bar. in the co. of Leitrim, prov. of Ulster, Ireland, containing the par. of Killasnct and parts of Cloonclare and Rossinver, comprising about 86,000 acres. l;i)S(JOBIE, a ril. in tho par. of Dunfermline, co. Fife, Scotland, 3$ miles N. of Dunfermline. It adjoins some very extensive lime works. There is a ridge of hills of the same name as tho village. E08COMMON, an inland co. of the prov. of Con- naught, Ireland. It lies between 63 16' to 64 7' N. lat., and from 7 50' to 8 46' W. long. It is bounded on the E. by the river Shannon, on the S. and S.W. by co. Gal way, on the W. by cos. Gal way and Mayo, on the N. by Sligo, and on the N.E. by Leitrim. It is 60 miles long, and its greatest breadth is 37 miles, comprising an area of 607,691 acres, of which 440,522 are in cultivation, 132,299 uncultivated, 768 occupied by the sites of towns, villages, and roads, 29,370 under water, and 6,732 in plantations. The general character of the surface is undulating or flat, except towards tho N., where it becomes mountainous. The Curlew Moun- tains in the N.W., the Slicvebawu range in the W., the Braulieve or Braughlievo on the Leitrim border, and some hills which skirt Lough Allen in the N., are the principal elevations, some of the summits attaining a height of 1,000 to 1,200 feet above the sea level. Tho principal rivers are the Suck and Shannon ; the former traverses the N. boundary, and tho latter drains it on the E. The lakes are numerous, and constitute a leading feature in this part of the island ; Loughs Key, Garra, Skcan, Meelagh, Aelagh, Erritt, and Glynn are the principal waters. The numerous small lakes are sometimes connected in a continued chain for great dis- tances, but are not navigable. There are several tur- loughs, which leave most luxuriant soil behind them in the summer. The prevailing subsoil is limestone, but sili- cious sandstone crops up frequently in different parts. The most important geological formations are those belonging to tho great carboniferous limestone district of central Ireland, and in tho northern part of the county they include a considerable coal field with three beds of coal, and resting on beds of the millstone-grit series, known as theArigna district. Iron ore is worked here, and extensive smelting and casting operations are carried on, also potters' fire and pipe clays are obtained in different parts. The Curlew Mountains consist of the Old lied sandstone formation, and the Braulieve of shales and sandstones. The soil in the level limestone districts is very fertile, but the bogs in the uplands are numerous. Agriculture is in a backward state, and the poorer classes of the inhabitants are extremely wretched. There are few dairies, though the pastures are luxuriant. Tho principal crops are oats, wheat, and potatoes. Tho breeds of cattle and sheep are good; the former long horned, and the latter long woollcd. A wide field for reclamation presents itself among tho extensive bogs and wastes. This county comprises nine baronies Athlone, North and South Ballintober, Ballymoe, Boyle, Castlereagh, Frenchpark, Moycarn, and Roscommon, which together include 58 parishes. The population in 1S51 was 173,798, and in 1861 100,000. Tho principal towns are Roscommon, Boyle, and Elphin. The county sent eight members to parliament before the Union, but now it has only two representatives for the county at large. The linen manufacture was at one time exten- sively diffused over the county, but it is now nearly extinct. Roscommon is included within tho Connanght circuit, tho assizes being held at Koscommon. Tho government is entrusted to a lord-lieutenant, assisted by 10 deputy-lieutenants, besides magistrates, coroners, &e. There are 54 police stations, with about 300 men. Athlone, Athleague, Ballagh, Boyle, Castlcrea, Croghan, Elphin, and Tulsk have dispensaries. It is in the western military district, and contains 3 barrack stations. Tho ancient inhabitants of Roscommon are said to have been tho A uteri ; subsequently the county was divided among the O'Connors in the midland, tho MacDermots in tho northern, and tho O'Kellies in the southern districts. Notices of the Sheriff of Roscommon are found as early as Edward I. The county lies partly within the diocesea of Elphin, Tuam, and Clonfert. There are numerous raths and various monastic remains, some of considerable interest. ROSCOMMON, a bar. in the co. of Roscommon, prov. of Connaught, Ireland, contains the pars, of Aughrim, Bumlin, Clooncraff, Cloonfinlough, Elphin, Kilcooley, Killukin, Kiltrustan, Lissonuffy, Ogulla, Shankill, with parts of Creeve, Kilbride, and Kilglass, besides tho vils. of Strokestown and Tulsk, together comprising about 82,600 acres. ROSCOMMON, a par., post and market town, and