RUGBY, a market-town of England, in the county of Warwick, stands on a hill on the left bank of the Avon, 16 miles N.E. of Warwick and 83 N.W. of London. Part of the town is old, and part recently erected; the former somewhat irregular, and the latter consisting of straight streets lined with good brick houses. The parish church is an old building with a massive square tower. There was at one time a castle in the vicinity, but only a few traces of it are now to be seen. The chief importance of the place is derived from its being the seat of one of the great English public schools. This institution was founded in 1567 by Lawrence Sheriff, a London tradesman and native of Rugby. Its reputation as a place of education dates from the act of Parliament regulating it, passed in 1777, and was raised to a still higher degree under Dr Arnold, who, while head-master (1827-1842), effected great improvements in Rugby school, which were subsequently adopted in most of the other schools of England. The amount of the endowment is estimated at £5000 a year, and the number of pupils averages 400. There are thirteen assistants under the head-master, and twenty-one exhibitions to the universities, each of £60 for seven years. The buildings are of brick, in the Elizabethan style, and form a quadrangle 90 feet by 75. In the chapel are monuments to Dr Arnold and other celebrated masters of the school. The town contains, besides the parish church, two other Established churches; also places of worship belonging to Wesleyans, Baptists, and Roman Catholics; parish and infant schools, various benevolent institutions, &c. Many of the inhabitants are employed in an iron foundry, the only manufactory of any importance. The trade is considerable, and several fairs are held for corn and cattle. Rugby is the place of junction of several
Rugeley lines of railway, and thus occupies an important position in the system of internal communication of the country. The London and North-Western connects it on the one hand with the metropolis, and on the other with Liverpool, Manchester, and the north; while other lines diverge from this point in different directions. A county court is held in the town. Pop. 6317.