RAMSEY, a town of Huntingdonshire, 68 miles north of London, and 12 north-east of Huntingdon. It is situated as it were in an island, being everywhere encompassed with fens, except on the west, where it is separated from the terra firma by a causeway for two miles. The neighbouring meers of Ramsey and Whitlesey, which are formed by the river Nynce, abound with fish, especially eel and large pikes. It was once famous for

a very rich abbey, part of the gatehouse of which is still standing, and a neglected statue of Ailwin; the epitaph on whose tomb, which is reckoned one of the oldest pieces of English sculpture extant, styles him "kinsman of the famous King Edward, alderman of all England, and miraculous founder of this abbey." It was dedicated to St Dunstan, and its abbot was mitred and sat in parliament; and so many kings of England were benefactors to it, that its yearly rents, says Camden, were 700l. The town was then called Ramsey the Rich; but by the dissolution of the abbey it soon became poor; and even lost its market for many years, till about 200 years ago it recovered it. It is held on Saturday, and is reckoned one of the most plentiful in England. In the year 1721 a great number of Roman coins was found here, supposed to have been hid by the monks on some incursion of the Danes. There is a charity school in the town for poor girls. In 1811 the number of inhabitants was 2392. W. Long. c. 19. N. Lat. 52. 26.