RINGWOOD, a parish partly in the northern division
of the hundred of NEW-FOREST, New Forest (East)
division, but chiefly in that part of the hundred of
RINGWOOD which is in the New Forest (West) division,
of the county of SOUTHAMPTON, comprising the market
(own of Ringwood, the tything of Burley with the
Ville of Bistern Closes, and the extra-parochial liberty
of Burley Lodge, and containing, exclusively of the
extra-parochial liberty of Woodgreen, 3804 inhabitants,
of which number, 3471 are in the town of Ringwood,
30 miles (W. S. W.) from Southampton, and 91
(S. W. by W.) from London. This place is of great
antiquity, having been of considerable importance during
the Saxon times, and was originally named Regnum,
or " the town of the Regni," mentioned by Antoninus;
and afterwards Rinovid, and Regnewood, which, by a
Saxon termination, denotes " the wood of the Regni."
The town is situated on the eastern bank of the navigable
river Avon, which, dividing eastward into three
branches, over each of which is a stone bridge, afterwards
collects its waters into a broad expanse, with
an island in the middle, crossed by a causeway; it
is well built, and consists principally of four streets;
the inhabitants are supplied with good water, and
the atmosphere is considered to be very salubrious.
The manufacture of woollen cloth and stockings was
formerly carried on to a considerable extent, but it
has declined; here is a large brewery for ale. The
market is on Wednesday, and fairs. are held on July
10th and December llth, principally for cattle and
forest colts. Manorial courts are held twice a year,
at one of which a constable is annually appointed;
and petty sessions for the New Forest (West) division
are holden here. The living is a vicarage, with the
chapel of Harbridge, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the
Incumbent, rated in the king's books at £75. 5. 5.,
and in the patronage of the Provost and Fellows of
King's College, Cambridge. The church, which is de-
dicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, is an ancient and
spacious structure, but has undergone much modern
alteration. There are places of worship for Independents
and Unitarians.  The free grammar school was
founded, in 1586, by Richard Lyne, who bequeathed a
house and rent-charge of £13. 6. 8. for that purpose;
this endowment having been subsequently increased by
various bequests, the present annual income is upwards
of £30; about sixteen children are instructed, but classical
tuition has not been required for several years.
An exhibition of £6 per annum to either of the Universities
was founded by Thomas Lyne, by will dated
1621, for a poor scholar from this school.