RUTHIN, or RHUTHYN (RHUDD-DDIN), a borough, market, and assize town, a parish, and the head of a union, in the hundred of
RUTHIN,	county of DENBIGH, NORTH WALES, 8 miles (S. E. by S.) from Denbigh, and 210 (N. W. by W.) from
London; containing 3333 inhabitants, of whom 1331 are in the parish and town. The Welsh name of this borough, " Casten
C6ch yn ' Gwernvor," has induced historians to conclude that there was an ancient British fortress here, prior to the time
of Edward I., who is said to have been the founder of the present castle, which, from the colour of the stone procured for
that purpose, obtained the appellation of RhOdd-ddin, or " the red or brown fortress," from which the town also derived
itspm' sent name, or rather from the stratum of red freestone pervading the parish. Edward granted this place, together
with the cantrev of Dyfryn Clwyd, and some other lands now constituting the present lordship of Ruthin, to Reginald,
second son of John de Grey, by whom some historians, and among these Camden, assert that the castle and the town were both
on founded, by permission of that raonarcb. The castle and lordship of Ruthin remaine4 for several generations in the
undisturbed possession of the family of de Grey; and the town, which, under their protection, continued to advance in
prosperity, became at an early period a considerable place, and had one of the best markets in the Vale of Clwyd. Little,
however, is recorded of the history of the castle, which appears to have been wholly unconnected with any of the political
transactions of the conquest of Waies. Reginald de Grey was summoned to parliament in the 14th of Edward I., by the title
of Lord Grey of Ruthin. In 1400, Owain Glyndwr, who, in resistance to the government of Henry IV., spread devastation
through almost every part of the principality which acknowledged the authority of that monarch, made a sudden attack upon
this place dicing the fair which was held here, and, after some fruitless attempts to take the castle, plundered the
inhabitants, burnt the town, and retreated in safety to the mountains. The castle and the lordship continued with the
lords de Grey, whom Edward IV: elevated to the earldom of Kent, till the reign of Henry VII., when they were sold by
Richard, Earl of Kent, to that monarch, and were made an appendage to the crown. Henry VIII. grunted the castle and its
dependencies to his son Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond, at whose death they again became the property of the crown, and
were bestowed by Elisabeth on Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick. After the death of the Earl of Warwick, the possessions, a
second time reverting to the crown, were assigned on lease by James L to Sir Francis Crane, to whom they were subsequently
sold in the time of Charles I. During the parliamentary war in the reign of this monarch, the castle was garrisoned for
the king, and in 1844 was attacked by Sir Thomas Myddelton and Colonel Mytton, but resolutely held out against the
besiegers, who found themselves unable to reduce it. In the following year the king visited the place in person, attended
by Prince Maurice, and, after remaining only for a short time, and inspecting the garrison, continued his route through
North Wales to Chester. The castle was again besieged in February 1646, by Major-General Mytton and a strong force, to
whom, after an obstinate defence, the garrison surrendered on honourable terms, in the month of April following, and the
fortifications were soon afterwards demolished by order of the parliament. Upon the Restoration, the castle and its
dependencies were pur, chased by Sir Richard Myddelton; and to the ruins of the former an elegant castellated mansion his
lately been added by the Hon. Frederick West; but the lordship and its other dependencies are the property of Sir
Richard's descendant, Miss Myd. delton. This PARISH and that of Llanrhildd, which were originally one, and are still
ecclesiastically so coasidered, are bounded on the south by the parish of Llanvair, east by the same and that of
Llanarmort-in-Yale, west by Llanvwrog, and north by Lienbedr; and contain by admeasurement 1989 acres, of which it is
computed that about one-third is in the parish of Ruthin, and two-thirds are in that of Liam. rhfidd; 1220 acres being
arable, 596 meadow and pasture, 90 woodland, and e3 common. The surface is beautifully diversified, the eastern part of
Llanrh6dd embracing a portion of the Clwyoiian hills, and the western part of Ruthin the meanderings of the river Clwyd,
with the fertile and luxuriant meadow. on its banks; the hedgerows are of stately timber, consisting of oak, ash, and
American poplar, some of which have arrived at a great size; and the agricultural produce is equally rich and abundant,
yielding fine crops of wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, and turnips, together with grass and hay. The TOWN is beautifully
situated on the summit and acclivity of an eminence in the picturesque Vale of Clwyd, at the base of which, and partly
through the town, flows the river from which the vale takes its name, at this place an inconsiderable stream, serving only
to work some mills in the neighbourhood. The appearance of the town, which is well built, is pleasing; and the vicinity
is embellished with several gentlemen's seats, and comprehends some varied scenery. It is bounded by a chain of lofty
mountains, upon the highest of which, called the Mother, is a pillar of freestone, to commemorate the jubilee of his
Majesty George III. No particular trade or mannfac., ture is carried on, except what is necessary for the accommodation of
the inhabitants, who are principally engaged in agriculture. It has been for some time in contemplation to make the river
Clwyd nevi-gable from this place to Rhuddian, sixteen miles distant; a project which might be carried into effect at a
comparatively inconsiderable expense, and would conduce materially to promote the prosperity of the town. The market,
which is abundantly supplied with corn, is on Monday, and there is a second market on Saturday for provisions. Fairs are
held on the second Monday after the 12th of January, (a general one for horses, cattle, pip, arc.) March 19th and 20th,
the Friday before Whit-Sunday, 19th and 20th of April, 2nd and 3rd of July, 8th August, 30th September, 10th November, and
the second Monday in December, (a general fair for the sale of horses, cattle, &c.)  those in April and July were
recently established, agreeably with a resolution passed at a meeting of the inhabitants ander the -sanction of the mayor
and council, Jan. 12th, 1841. During the hay and corn harvests, the farmers of the Vale of Clwyd attend every morning at
the market-place to hire labourers for the day, who as, semble here for that purpose, with their scythes and reaping-
hooks. Prior to the passing of the act of the 5th and 6th of William IV., c. 76, the GOVERNMENT of the borough was vested,
by charter of incorporation granted by Henry VIL, in two aldermen, sixteen common-councilmen, and an indefinite number of
burgesses: the aldermen were chosen annually at the court held for the lordship, at.Michaelmas; and they, immediately on
assuming office, appointed the councilmen. The corporation is now styled the " Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses," and
consists of a mayor, four aldermen, and twelve councillors, forming the council of the borough, of which the municipal and
parliamentary boundaries are the same. The council elect the mayor every year on Nov. 9th, out of the aldermen or
councillors; and the aldermen sexennially out of the councillors, or persons qualified as such, one-half going out of
office every three years, but re-eligible: the councillors are chosen on Nov. 1st, by and out of the enrolled burgesses,
one-third retiring annually. The aldermen and councillors must have each a property qualification of £500, or be rated at
£15 annual value. The burgesses consist of the occupiers of houses and shops who have been rated for three years to the
relief of the poor, if resident householders within seven miles; and a valid title to be a burgess is acquirable by
descent, marriage, marriage-settlement, devise, or promotion to any benefice or office, in which case the occupancy and
payment of rates by the predecessor may be reckoned. Two auditors and two assessors are elected on March 1st, by and from
among the burgesses; and the council appoint a treasurer, town-clerk, and other officers, who hold their offices during
pleasure. The place is one of the contributory boroughs which, with Denbigh, return a member to parliament: the right of
voting is in the resident freemen, if admitted and sworn under the old charter, in number a hundred and forty-seven, and
in every person of full age occupying, either as owner or as tenant under the same landlord, a house or other premises of
the annual value of not less than ten pounds, provided he be capable of registering as the Reform Act demands; and the
present number of tenements of this value, within the limits of the borough, is about a hundred and fifty. The exact
limits of the borough are not clearly defined in the charter, but by prescription are held to comprise the whole of the
parish of Ruthin, part of that of Llanvwrog, the hamlet of Llanrh6dd Isiv, in the parish of Ilanrhfuld, and part of the
parishes of Llanynys and Llanvair-Dyfryn-Clwyd. Ruthin is a polling-place in the election of knights for the shire; and,
from its central situation, it has been selected, in preference to the town of Denbigh, for holding the assizes for the
county; and the quarter-sessions are held alternately here and at Denbigh. A court leet for the lordship occurs twice a
year, namely, within one month after Easter and Michaelmas; and a court baron takes place every alternate Saturday, at
which the steward presides; the latter is also a court of record, taking cognizance of plaints and civil actions arising
within the limits of the lordship; and the offices of steward and recorder of this court were formerly (when the lordship
belonged to the crown) patent offices. The town-hall, situated near the market-place, is a substantial edifice, but in no
respect remarkable for its style of architecture. Prior to the erection of the county-hall, in the town, it was used for
holding occasionally the great and quarter-sessions, but now solely for the meetings of the corporation, which take place
in the council-chamber, and for the lordship courts, &c. This building has recently been most handsomely repaired, at the
expense of the lady of the manor. The county-hall, in which the great sessions are held, and the quarter-sessions
alternately with Denbigh, is a beautiful modern structure, and, with the county gaol and house of correction, also
situated here, is highly creditable to the talents of the architect, Mr. Turner. The gaol has recently been enlarged by
the addition of a building for female prisoners, and comprises six distinct wards for male, and four wards for female
prisoners, for whose classification it is thus well adapted; together with six solitary cells: the males are employed on
the tread-wheel, or in knitting worsted gloves, and the females in washing for themselves and the other prisoners; the
former are allowed the whole of their earnings in knitting, and the females receive one shilling per week for washing, and
fourpence in every shilling which they earn by sewing. There are two infirmaries in the prison: divine service is
performed twice, and a sermon delivered once on every Sunday by the chaplain; and prayers are read daily by the gaoler to
the prisoners, who are supplied gratuitously with bibles and religious tracts. The LIVING is a rectory, consolidated with
that of Llanrhiidd; and the tithes of the two parishes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £462. 1., forming the
endowment of Christ's Hospital, in Ruthin, the warden of which establishment is the principal minister of both churches,
appointing a curate to each, who is responsible to him for its spiritual care, the prescribed duties of his office
requiring him only occasionally to share in their labours: the patronage of the wardenship is in the Dean and Chapter of
Westminster; net income, £263, with a glebe-house This place forms the head of the rural deanery of Dyfryn Clwyd. The
church, dedicated to St. Peter, was made collegiate and parochial about the year 1310, by John, son of Reginald de Grey,
who endowed it for a prior, or warden, and a few reg.olar, priests, to perform mass at the mother church of Llanrhildd,
the chapel at the castle, and this church; and it is still not unfrequently called "the Collegiate and Parochial Church of
St. Peter," retaining its name prior to its being refounded by Dean Goodman. It is an ancient edifice in various styles of
architecture, and appears to have been built at different periods, or to have undergone material alto*. tions: the tower,
and the south and west fronts, which are of the most modern date, are greatly inferior to the rest of the building: the
interior is of better character, and the roof, which is of carved oak, panelled, richly sculptured, and apparently of the
time of Henry VII., is supposed to have been constructed by that monarch after his purchase of the lordship from the Earl
of Kent; on the panels are the inscriptions, in relief, "Jesus Mercy," "Lady help," 66 Mater Maria, ora pro nobis." One
hundred and forty-four sittings were added about twenty years ago, towards defraying the expense of which the Incorporated
Society for the erection and enlargement of churches and chapels granted the sum of £50, in consideration of which ninety
sittings have been declared free and unappropriated. An organ has been presented by the Hon. F. West; and a vestry-room,
with a library, has been built at the west end of the church, at the expense of the present warden. There are places of
worship for Baptists, Independents, Wesleyans, Primitive Methodists, and English Independents. The Free grammar-school was
founded in 1595, by Dr. Goodman, Dean of Westminster, and was by Queen Elizabeth, in the same year, endowed with one-half
of the tithes of Llanehclan, now producing above £500 per annum, for the support of a master and usher, for the gratuitous
instruction of boys born in the town of Ruthin and parish of Llanelidan; the master to be appointed by the Bishop of
Bangor, and the warden of Christ's Hospital, in this town, and the usher to be chosen by the master: the master's house,
school-room, and dormitories, and library above, were repaired and improved in 1831, by means of donations from the
bishop, the warden, and the master, and other, liberal contributions, which are recorded on a card in the school-room.
Two-thirds of the endowment are paid to the head master, and one-third to the usher, under a decree of the Court of
Chancery in 1750; and the same proportion is observed with regard to the tuition money of the pay scholars, which amounts
to above £7 for each: the number of free scholars is 15. The school has two exhibitions to either of the Universities,
established by Godfrey Goodman, Bishop of Gloucester, and nephew to the founder (See close of the next paragraph, in
succeeding page), and under the regulation of a decree of the Court of Chancery, in 1824, which are in the gift of the
warden of Christ's Hospital, and other trustees; and also others instituted by the Rev. Edward Lloyd, rector of Ripple,
the number of which varies from two to four, in proportion to the -fluctuating income of the estate purchased with his
pecuniary bequest, in 1740. That bequest produced £1247. 9. 7., with which was bought the messuage of Carreglwyd, and 691
acres of land, since extended to nearly 79 acres by an allotment on Mold mountain, in the parish of Mold, county of Flint,
and now yielding a rent of £100 per annum. Each exhibition is £25, but occasionally £20; and is held by the scholar for
four years. The school has likewise a claim, in conjunction with that of Bangor, to a fellowship founded in St. John's
College, Cambridge, by Dr. John Gwyn, in the 13th of the reign of Elizabeth. Among the eminent men who have received the
rudiments of their education in the school, may be noticed, Dr. John Davies, author of a Welsh grammar and dictionary;
John Williams, Lord Keeper and Archbishop of York; John Wynne, Principal of Jesus' College, Oxford, and successively
Bishop of St. Asaph, and of Bath and Wells; Dr. Tucker, Dean of Gloucester; the Right Hon. Lloyd, Lord Kenyon; the Hon.
Mr. Baron Perryn; Lord Chief Baron Richards; Dr. H. Owen, Rector of St. Olave, Hart Street, London; Dr. Edwards,
Archdeacon of Brecknock; Dr. Cotton, Dean of Chester; and various others. The present warden is the Rev. R. Newcome, who
has written Memoirs of Dean Goodman, the founder, and Dr. Goodman, Bishop of Gloucester, and is author also of histories
of the castles and towns of Denbigh and Ruthin. A National day and Sunday school for the instruction of children belonging
to Ruthin, Llanvwrog, and Llanrhfidd, contains 40 boys and 40 girls; the master and mistress have each a salary of £30,
arising from subscriptions, a weekly payment of Id. from each child, and about £4 per annum belonging to the parish for
the education of poor children. There are also five other day schools, one of which, containing about 45 boys, and having
a lending library attached, is supported partly by an endowment of a portion of the tithes, and partly by payments from
some of the parents; and in the other four about 140 children are wholly educated at the cost of their parents. Six Sunday
schools, too, have been established; one is held in the church, and the others are supported by dissenters, and afford
instruction to about 500 males and females; and in two infants' schools, about 50 children are taught at their parents'
expense. Christ's Hospital, in Ruthin, was founded by Dr. Gabriel Goodman, Dean of Westminster, under letters patent of
the 32nd of Elizabeth, for a priest and twelve poor persons, ten men, and two women to attend them, all unmarried and
above fifty years of age. Dr. Goodman, prior to this time, had erected twelve almshouses for so many persons, and, by let-
ters patent of the above date, he incorporated the society under the designation of the " President and Warden of Christ's
Hospital, in Ruthin," and endowed the same with the tithes of Ruthin and Llanrhfld; appointing the Bishop of Bangor
for the time being president, and the priest, warden: these two have the entire government of the hospital, and also of
the grammar school instituted by the same bene. factor. The houses, which are in good repair, are pleasantly situated on
the east side of the churchyard, with gardens, and the almspeople receive each three shillings every week, and £1
quarterly, with coal, and gowns and shoes every year; these additions being the produce of various benefactions. Dr.
Goodman, Bishop of Gloucester, in 1655, bequeathed lands in Yale, to the extent of 60 acres, to which an allotment of 44
acres was added under the Llanarmon-in-Yale Inclosure Act of 51st of George 111.; and other lands in the county of
Carnarvon; the produce of the former, now £55 per annum, to be distributed weekly in bread to the poor of It uthin, and
the rents of those in Carnarvon to be appropriated in apprenticing two boys, and to the support of a traveller beyond the
seas. The latter bequest, which consisted of two farms, one of 150 acres and the other of 546, in the parish of Llanberis,
the former let for £40, and the latter for £70 per annum, was, by a decree of the Court of Chancery, in 1824, converted
into the two above-mentioned exhibitions for the grammar school, instead of supporting a traveller and the funds, which
have been greatly increased by the opening of slate quarries on the property, (on which account a sum of £800 has
accumulated in the three per cents.,) will now apprentice three boys with fees of £15 each, and allow of two exhibitions
to college of £22. 10. each, besides leaving a surplus of nearly £40 per annum. There are also several other charitable
donations and bequests, the produce of which, about £17 per annum, is distributed among the poor, in money and clothing,
on St. Thomas's-day. The poor-law union, of which the town is the head, comprises the following twenty-one parishes and
townships, namely, Aberwhielor, Clocaenog, Derwen, Evenechtyd, Cyfeiliog Linnarmon, Llanbedr, Llandegla, Llandyrnog,
Lianelidan, Llanvair-Dyfryn-Clwyd, Llanverras, Llanvwrog, Llangwyvan, Liangynhaval, Llanrhaildr-in- Kinmerch
Llanrlifidd, Llanychan, Llanynys, Nantglyn, and Ruthin; it contains a population of 16,619. The ancient castle occupied
the declivity of a hill fronting the Vale of Clwyd towards the west, and from the extensive foundations and remaining
portions of the walls, appears to have been a structure of great strength and magnificence: the remains consist chiefly of
a few fragments of the towers, and of ruined walls, nearly levelled with the foundation; and within the area of this once
splendid pile are, a meadow, a fives' court, and a bowling-green. From various parts of the site are some rich and
extensive prospects, embracing many interesting objects. Near the town-hall is a rude block of limestone, called Maen
Huail, on which it is said the celebrated Prince Arthur beheaded his rival Huail, brother to Gildas, the historian. Ruthin
mill, a curious ancient edifice, having on the apex of the _eastern gable a red stone cross, is supposed to have been
originally the chapel of the ,cell of White friars, mentioned by Leland as formerly existing here, but of which no records
are preserved. Notice is also taken of a cell of Bonitommes, at this place, probably the original establishment for which
John de Grey, with the consent of the Bishop of Bangor and the rector of Llanrhiidd, made the church ceoletiate: the
apartments of the canons were cone with the church by a cloister, a remaining portion of which has been converted into a
house for the warden of Christ's Hospital: the parlours and hall are much admired for their beautifully groined roofs. The
elegant motel-hated mansion erected by the Hon. F. West, on the site of the ancient castle, forms an interesting and
beautiful feature in the prospect of the town. Dr. Goodman, Dean of Westminster, one of the translators of Archbishop
Parker's Bible, and principal promoter of Bishop Morgan's Welsh translation; Edward Thelwall, tutor to Lord Herbert, of
Chirbury; Dr. Parry, Bishop of St. Asaph; Dr. Goodman, Bishop of Gloucester; Sir Eubule Thelwall, Knt., principal, and
second founder, of Jesus' College, Oxford; and Sir Thomas Exmewe, lord mayor of London in 1517, were all natives of this
place. The barony of Grey de Ruthin is at present enjoyed by Barbara, Marchioness of Hastings, and daughter of Henry
Edward Gould, Esq., who, as nineteenth baron, assumed the name and arms of Yelverton, and whose decease occurred in 1810.