RICKMANSWORTH, 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 3Q40 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 flourmills,
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 residence
of several distinguished characters, having been
occupied 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 birthplace,
in 1553, of Sir Thomas White, a merchant-tailor,
and lord mayor of London, who is honourably 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.