Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/379

Rh EUFFORD. 367 RUGELEY. There are National schools for both sexes, supported by Lady A. Hesketh and Sir T. G. Hesketh, Bart. The principal residence is Hesketh Hall. RUF FORD, an ext. par. place in the Hatfield div. of Bassetlaw wap., co. Nottingham, 2 miles S. of Ollerton. The chief part of the land is in forest and park, extending for near six miles along the banks of the Rainworth-water. It was formerly celebrated as the site of an abbey for Cistercian monks founded by Gilbert de Ghente, Earl of Lincoln, in 1148, as a cell to the Abbey of Rievaulx. Its revenue at the Dissolution was valued at 251 6. 8d. The site eventually passed into the hands of the Talbot family, who converted the ancient abbey into the present seat of that name, situated in a wooded park of 1,400 acres in extent. Por- tions of the old house in which James I. and his son were entertained when hunting have been incorporated into the present building. The hall contains several relics and numerous pictures of persons of note. The Rufford hounds hunt here. There are schools supported by the Earl of Scarborough. RUFFORTH, a par. partly in the Ainsty and partly in the West Riding co. York, 5 miles W. of York, its post town, and 2j from Ilessay railway station. The village, which is of small extent, is chiefly agricultural. The soil is principally clay. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act in 1794. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of York, val. 100. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient edifice, with a tower containing two bells. There is a parochial school, also a place of worship for the Wesleyans. J. Clayton, Esq., is lord of the manor and the chief landowner. RUGANTINE, a tnshp. in the par. of Bettus, co. Salop, 9 miles S.W. of Bishop's Castle. RUGBY, a div. of the hund. of Knightlow, co. "War- wick, contains the pars, of Bilton, Bourton, Clifton, Church Lawford, Church Over, Dunchurch, Frankton, Hillmorton, Newbold-ou-A von, Newnham-Regis, Rugby, Ryton, Stretton-upon-Dunsmoor, Willoughby, and part of Wolston, comprising about 40,000 acres. RUGBY, a par. and market town in the Rugby div. of Knightlow hund., co. Warwick, 15 miles N.E. of Warwick, and 83 from London by the London and North- Western railway, which hero forms a junction with the North Midland, the Leamington and Warwick, the Trent Valley, and the Rugby and Stamford lines. It is situated on high ground close to the left bank of the river Avon, and near to the Oxford canal. Rugby does not possess any especial historical interest, and though supposed to be of some antiquity, nothing is cer- tainly known about it previous to the time of Edward the Confessor. In Domesday Book it is called Socheberie, and as late as the reign of Elizabeth was written Rokeby. In the reign of King Stephen a castle was built near this spot, some of the earthworks of which are still to be seen. During the civil war Oliver Cromwell was quartered here with a large body of troops ; and Wil- liam III. stopped here just before taking command of liis army previous to the battle of the Boyne. The town, which is well paved and lighted with gas, has been considerably improved of late years in the principal streets, but what contributes most to the importance of Rugby is its grammar school. This school was ori- ginally founded by Lawrence Sheriff, grocer and native ' I i'.rownsover, in 1567, and is now sought after by the i;tmilies in England for the education of their sons, (aid in consequence has induced many opulent families to settle in the town. The buildings which form the school are situated in the southern part of the town ; are in the Elizabethan style, and built of white . and stone, the greater part comparatively modern, the chapel being the last portion erected. The exhibitions i4s of twenty-one scholarships varying from 40 to xu per annum, and tenable for four years. These are i to boys going to the universities by trustees at the '.il elections in June. When Dr. Wood was head r in 1810 the schools were rebuilt, and the number of scholars gradually increased under the able adminis- tration of the late Dr. Arnold; in Dr. Taifr's time tho number reached nearly 500 ; there are now some 450 scholars, including 50 on the foundation. Dr. Frederick Temple is the head master, and there are 10 assistant masters. The endowment originally consisted of a small property in Brownsover, to which the founder afterwards added about 8 acres of land, now occupied by Lamb's Conduit-street, close to the Foundling Hospital, London, and which yields a revenue of upwards of 5.000 per annum. Out of these funds, besides the school endow- ments, 7*. a-week with residence are granted to fourteen poor persons natives of Rugby. The population in 1851 was 6,317, with 1,103 inhabited houses, which in 1861 had increased to 7,818, with 1,417 inhabited houses. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in trade, but there are no manufacturing establishments except some brew- eries, an iron foundry, and tile and brick work. Rail- way communication has largely contributed to the trade of the town, and the London and North- Western railway station is an extensive structure. The Midland Counties railway commences here, and so does the Trent Valley, and there are other branch railways, so that upwards of a hundred trains leave Rugby station every day. Rugby Poor-law Union contains 41 parishes and town- ships. There are a literary institution and a savings- bank. A county-court is held every month, and petty sessions every week in the townhall, which was erected in 1856 at a cost of 7,000. Tho living is a rect.* with the cur. of Trinity annexed, in the dioc. of Wor- cester, val. 510. The church, dedicated to St. An- drew, has a massive square embattled tower at tho W. end, but possesses no especial architectural feature of interest. It has been considerably enlarged thrice within the last eighty years. The register dates from 1620, and there is a register of the incumbents from 1253. There are also the district churches of St. Mat- thew and the Holy Trinity, the livings of both which are perpet. curs.* The former was erected in 1841, and Holy Trinity opened in 1854, the latter being a cruci- form structure with a square tower in the centre. Tho Roman Catholics have likewise a chapel with a college and convent, and there are places of worship for Wes- leyans, Baptists, and Primitive Methodists. Besides Rugby school, there arc tho Elborough school and alms- houses, founded by Richard Elborough about a century ago, where 250 scholars of both sexes arc educated, also the parochial schools built in 1830, and infant school erected in 1846. Sheriff's almshouses have twelve in- mates, and there is a college fur tho deaf and dumb, which was established by Mr. Bingham for the upper classes. Saturday is the ordinary market day, but thorn is also a corn market held on Tuesday. Fairs are held on the Tuesday after 6th January, 17th February, 31st March, last Monday in April, 5th May, second Monday in June, 7th July, ninth Monday before Michaelmas, 21st August, Mondays before Michaelmas and before 22nd October, 22nd November, Tuesday before St. Thomas's Day, and Monday after Christmas. RUGELEY, a par., post and market town in the E. div. of Cuttlestone hund., co. Stafford, 7 miles N.W. of Lichfield, and 9 S.E. of Stafford. It is a station on the Trent Valley branch of tho London and North- Western railway, and a new branch has been added, called tho Cannock Mineral line, which runs from Cannock to Wai- Ball, thus affording a communication to all parts of tho W. of England. It is situated on the Grand Trunk canal and the river Trent, and contains the chplry. of Brereton, and a portion of Cannock chase. It is a polling and petty sessions town. The manor was formerly held by the Rudgeleys and the Bishops of Lichfield, but was given to the Pagcts, ancestors of the Marquis of Angle- sey, the present lord of the manor, by Henry VIII. The town is situated near tho S. bank of the Trent, on the road from Stafford to Lichfield. It is well paved and lighted with gas, and has a clean and respectable appearance. It consists of several good streets, and con- tains two banks, a savings-bank, gas works, a mechanics' institute, and townhall situated nearly central of tho town. A court-leet is held in October by the Marquis