RICHMOND

RICHMOND, a market-town, parliamentary and municipal borough of England, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, occupies a beautiful position on a rocky height rising steeply from the Swale, here crossed by a stone bridge, 11 miles S.W. of Darlington, and 41 N.N.W. of York. The country around is richly wooded and very picturesque; and the romantic character of the place is enhanced by the old castle of Richmond, which stands to the south of the town, on the summit of cliffs which rise almost perpendicularly from the river. The Norman keep of the castle is still almost entire; the walls, 11 feet thick, rise to the height of nearly 100 feet. It was founded by Alan Rufus, Earl of Brittany, who came over with the Conqueror, and obtained from him the title of Earl of Richmond, along with the estates of the Saxon earl Edwin. The estates of Richmond became the crown property on the accession of that family in the person of Henry VII.; but they were conferred by Charles II. in 1675 on his son Charles Lennox, in whose family it still remains. The town is irregularly laid out, and has one handsome broad street and a large market-place. The parish church is chiefly of Gothic architecture, but has some parts in the Norman style. A fine pinnacled tower rises from the west end. Trinity Chapel is a building of much antiquity, standing in the market-place. The other places of worship in the town belong to Wesleyans, Baptists, and Roman Catholics. There is a good town-hall, containing accommodation for the quarter-sessions, and a large assembly-room. The grammar-school of Richmond, incorporated by Queen Elizabeth, has six scholarships at Oxford, Cambridge, and Durham, and contained in 1854, 60 pupils. The town has also a corporation school, national and infant schools, a school supported by Roman Catholics, a scientific society, and a mechanics' institute. The manufactures of the place are not of much importance, consisting of a large paper-mill, iron and brass foundries, tanneries, rope-works, and corn-mills. The market for corn here is of some importance; and though the town is not at present in a very flourishing condition, it is the residence of many wealthy families, and stands in a region where there are many parks and seats of the nobility and gentry. The borough is governed by a mayor, 3 other aldermen, and 12 councillors, and returns 2 members to Parliament. Near the town there are some remains of an ancient monastery of the priory of St Martin, and of St Nicholas' Hospital. Pop. of the parliamentary borough (1851) 4969.

Richmond. RICHMOND, a town of England, in the county of Surrey, on the sides and top of a hill on the right bank of the Thames, 10 miles W.S.W. of St Paul's in London. On the summit of the hill stands the Star and Garter Hotel, and along the brow runs a terrace, both commanding a wide view over one of the richest and most beautiful tracts of country in England. In the lower part of the town the houses are small and old-fashioned; but there are many very handsome buildings in the more modern portions, and in the outskirts. The parish church is a plain brick edifice, with a low embattled tower. In it and the church-yard there are monuments to Thomson the poet, Kean the actor, Dr John Moore, and Gilbert Wakefield, who are buried here. The church of St John, built in 1831, is a good building in the pointed style. Independents, Baptists, Wesleyans, and Roman Catholics possess in the town places of worship; and there is a Wesleyan theological institution, occupying a very fine edifice in the Tudor style. There are in the town several schools, a literary and scientific institution, mechanics' institute, theatre, and savings-bank. Richmond Park, which lies to the south-east of the town, is inclosed by a brick wall, and has an area of 2253 acres. It is open to the public, the main entrance being at the west end of the terrace; and it is well stocked with deer. This is called the New Park; the Old Park, which extends along the river as far as Kew, being closed to the public. Richmond is much more remarkable as a place of pleasure and summer resort than as the seat of business or commerce. Being connected with the capital by railway, as well as by the river steamboats, it is resorted to by great numbers of visitors. It was for a long time the seat of royalty; and probably it is to Edward I. that this honour is owing. Henry V. rebuilt the palace in a magnificent style; but in the reign of Henry VII. it was burned down, and a new palace erected. This monarch changed the name of the place from Sleean, which it previously had, to Richmond, his own title before his accession. In that palace Henry VII. died in 1509, Charles V. was lodged in 1523, and Queen Elizabeth, who had been confined here by Mary, and afterwards made it a favourite residence, breathed her last in 1603. Under the Commonwealth, the palace was sold, and was demolished partly then and partly in the next century. Pop. (1861) 9065.