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Rickmansworth in Hertford County England History and GeographyRICKMANSWORTH, a market town and parish in the hundred of CASHIO, or liberty of ST. ALBANS, county of HERTFORD, 24 miles (S.W. by W.) from Hertford, and 18 (N.W. by W.) from London, containing 3940 inhabitants. In the earliest records in which this town is named, it is written Rykemereswearth and Richmeresweard, signifying the rich moor meadow. The manor, which, with four others, constituted the lordship of Pynesfield, formed a part of the demesne of the Saxon kings, and was bestowed by Offa of Mercia on the abbot and monks of St. Alban's, to whom it was confirmed by succeeding kings, and who retained it until their dissolution, when it reverted to the crown, and was given by Edward VI. to Ridley, Bishop of London, after whose martyrdom, it was granted by Mary to his successor, Bonner, and in the reign of Elizabeth again became the property of the crown, and ultimately passed into private hands. The town is pleasantly situated in a valley, near the confluence of the rivers Colne and Gade with the Chess: these rivers are much frequented by anglers, being noted for trout, and the last, which rises in Buckinghamshire, turns several mills in its course. It is irregularly built, but its distance from London, combined with an agreeable adjacent country, renders it a desirable place of residence. Two constables and one headborough are appointed annually. Within the parish are several flour-mills, and six paper-mills, affording employment to nearly six hundred persons; there is also an extensive brewery; the manufacture of horse-hair seating for chairs, and straw plat, is carried on to a considerable extent; and the cultivation of water-cresses for the London market gives employment to many individuals. The Grand Junction canal passes through the town, and affords a communication with the metropolis and various parts of the kingdom. The market, formerly held on Wednesday, was granted by Henry III. for the benefit of the monastery of St. Alban's, during the abbacy of John of Hertford, but it has been discontinued of late years: there are fairs for cattle on the 20th of July and the 24th of November, and a statute fair on Saturday before the third Monday in September. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of St. Alban's, and diocese of London, rated in the king's books at £16, and in the patronage of the Bishop of London. The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, has an embattled tower of hewn flints at its western end; the body has lately been rebuilt of brick, coloured in imitation of weather-stained stone, to defray part of the expense of which, £700 was granted by the Incorporated Society for building and enlarging churches: some ancient ecclesiastical coins, and leaden and stone coffins, were discovered in digging for the foundation: over the altar is a beautiful window of painted glass, representing the Crucifixion; it was brought originally from St. Peter's at Rome, and purchased in Paris, in 1800, for £200. There are places of worship for Baptists and Independents. A National school for boys and girls is supported by donations and subscription; and there is also a British school for boys at Mill-End, within the parish; another for girls being about to be opened in the town. There are two sets of almshouses, one belonging to the parish, and one endowed with £10 per annum by John Fotherley, Esq., in 1674. More Park, a splendid mansion in the vicinity, has been the resioccupied at different times by Neville, Archbishop of York in the reign of Henry VI.; by Cardinal Wolsey; by the unfortunate Duke of Monmouth, son of Charles II.; and by Lord Anson. Rickmansworth was the birth-place, in 1553, of Sir Thomas White, a merchant-tailor, and lord mayor of London, who is honorably distinguished as the founder of Gloucester Hall (now Worcester College), and of St. John's College, Oxford; also of Merchant-Tailors' school, London; and for his extensive charitable benefactions. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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