Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/320

RENFREWSHIRE. 308 REPPS, NORTH. the chief facilities of communication, supplemented, how- ever, by the Glasgow and Johnstone canal, and by the Paisley and Renfrew, Glasgow andNeilston, Glasgowand Greenock, and Glasgow and South- Western lines of rail- way, which all traverse a portion of this county. The roads are numerous and well-made, crossing the county in every direction, the main lines being from Glasgow to Paisley and Renfrew, and so along the valley of the Clyde to Greenock, or by the valley of Kilbirnie to Ayr- s hire. The population of the county has increased from 78,501 at the commencement of the present century, to 161,091 in 1851, and 177,407 in 1861, inhabiting 11,972 separate houses. There are four principal towns, viz. Renfrew, Paisley, Greenock, and Port-Glasgow. The first is the only royal burgh and the county and election town. The other three are parliamentary burghs, Paisley and Greenock returning each one member to Parliament, while Renfrew and Port-Glasgow contribute to Kilmarnock in the adjoining county of Ayr. One member is also returned for the county, the constituency in 1856 being 2,652. There are also two burghs of barony (Gourock and Newtown),and about 100 villages and hamlets, the largest of which are Bridge-of-Weir, Crosslee, Crofthead, Gateside, Eaglesham, Innerkip, Kilmalcolm, Hollow-wood, Houston, Linwood, Newton- of-Beltrees, Newton-Kailston, Newton - Mearns, Gra- hamstown, East and West Arthurlee, New and Old Cathcart, Crossbill, Crossmyloof, Strathbungo, Thomlie- bank, Uplamuir, besides 16 others. The county is divided for political purposes into two wards, the upper and lower, and comprises 20 parishes, besides parts of 5 others. It is governed by a lord-lieutenant, vice-lieu- tenant, sheriff, and two substitutes, who severally reside at Paisley and Greenock, assisted by about 25 deputy- lieutenants. Quarter sessions are held at Renfrew on the first Tuesdays in March, May, and August, and on the last Tuesday in October. The sheriff court for the upper ward is held at Paisley on every Tuesday and Thursday during session, and for the lower ward on every Wednesday and Friday. The sheriff small-debt court is held weekly at Greenock, on Monday, and at Paisley on Thursday, and once in every other month at Pollockshaws. The justice of the peace small-debt courts are held at fixed intervals at Paisley, Greenock, and Port-Glasgow. The commissary court is held at Paisley on every Thursday. For ecclesiastical purposes Ren- frewshire constitutes the presbyteries of Paisley and Greenock, in the synod of Glasgow and Ayr. It contains, besides the 20 quoad civilia parishes mentioned above, 3 quoad sacra parishes, and 12 chapelries. Among the principal seats are Hawkhead, of the Earl of Glasgow ; Erskine House, Bishopton House, and Cardonald, of Lord Blautyre ; Cathcart House and Cartside, of Lord Cathcart ; Abbots Inch, of Lord Douglas ; Pollock House, of Maxwell, Bart. ; Pollock Castle, of Pollock, Bart. ; Milliken, or Napier House, of Napier, Bart. ; Ardgowan, of Stewart, Bart. ; Blythswood House, of Archibald Campbell ; Caldwell, of Mure ; Johnstone Castle, of Houston ; besides numerous other private mansions. There are three poorhouses in the county, one in the parish of Abbey-of- Paisley, one for the town parishes of Paisley, and one in the parish of Greenock. RENHOLD, a par. in the hund. of Barford, co. Bed- ford, 3 J miles N.E. of Bedford, and 8 S.W. of St. Neot's. The village, which is of small extent, is situated on a branch of the river Ouse, and is wholly agricultural. The surface is rather hilly, and in some parts gravel, but is generally of a clayey nature. A large portion of the land is in wood. The great tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 428 10s., and the vicarialfor 125. The living is a Vic.* in the dioc. of Ely, val. 126. The church, dedicated to All Saints, has a square tower con- taining five bells. The interior of the church contains some monuments. The charities produce about 39 per annum, of which 28 goes to Beecher's free school. Howbury Hall, the principal residence, is situated in the midst of a well-wooded park. Captain F. C. Polhill is lord of the manor. In the neighbourhood are several mounds, locally known as the " Amphitheatre." RENISHAW, a tnshp. in the par. of Eckington, hund. of Scarsdale, co. Derby, 6 miles N.E. of Chester- field. It is situated on the river Rothie and Chester- field canal, and near the Leeds railway. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the coal mines and iron-works. On the bank of the canal is an extensive iron foundry. There is a school with a small endowment. RENNINGTON, a tnshp. and chplry. in the par. of Embleton, S. div. of Bambrough ward, co. Northum- berland, 3J miles N.E. of Alnwick, its post town. The village, which, is of small extent, is wholly agricultural. The soil is of a clayey and sandy nature, with a subsoil of clay. The living is a perpet. cur.* in the dioc. of Durham, val. 115, in the patron, of the Vicar of Embleton. The church, dedicated to All Saints, has a square tower containing one bell. The register dates from 1768. The church is of recent erection. There is a National school for both sexes, in which a Sunday- school is held. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor. RENTON, a vil. in the par. of Cardross, co. Dumbar- ton, Scotland, 3 miles N. of Dumbarton, and 1 j mile 8. of Alexandria. It is a station on the Dumbartonshire railway. It is situated on the river Leven, and on the road from Dumbarton to Luss, and was founded in 1782 by the Smolletts, of Bonhill. In the neighbourhood is a pillar to Smollett, who was born at Dulquharn. A large portion of the inhabitants are employed in calico printing, and in the bleaching works. There are a Free church, Reformed Presbyterian church, also a library, and several schools and institutions. RENTON, a quondam vil. in the par. of Coldingham, o. Berwick, Scotland, 5 miles W. of Coldingham. It is situated on the river Eye, near Renton Inn, and is the site of a tower. RENVILLE, a vil. in the par. of Oranmore, bar. of Dunkellin, co. Galway, prov. of Connaught, Ireland, 1 mile S.W. of Oranmore. It is situated on Galway Bay, and is traversed by the road from Oranmore to Ardfry. There are a small pier and a .police station. This place is a resort for sea-bathing. An old castle is still standing in Renville demesne. In the vicinity are quarries ol black marble, and lead ore is found. RENVYLE HEAD, a promontory on the coast of Galway, Ireland, lies between Killery and Ballynakill harbours. RENWICK, a par. and tnshp. in Leath ward, co. Cumberland, 1 1 miles N.E. of Penrith, its post town, and 3 N.E. of Kirkoswald. The village, which is of a straggling appearance, is situated on the W. side of Thackmoor Fell, and is chiefly agricultural. The soil is of a loamy nature, with a subsoil of gravel and sand. About a third of the land is arable, and the remainder stunted meadow and mountain pasture. The tithes were commuted for land under an Enclosure Act in 1814. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Carlisle, val. 92. The church, dedicated to All Saints, has a turret con- taining two bells. The parochial charities produce about 1 per annum. There is a place of worship for the Wesleyans, also a Sunday-school. Queen's College, Oxford, owns the manor. A fair for horses, &c., is held on the Thursday prior to the 26th September. REORSBY. See REARSBY, co. Leicester. REPHAM. See REEPHAM, co. Lincoln. REPPS, NORTH, a par. in the hund. of North Erpingham, co. Norfolk, 3 miles S.E. of Cromer, its post town, and 7 N.W. of North Walsham. The vil- lage, which is considerable, is situated near the coast, and is chiefly agricultural. The road from Norwich to Cromer intersects the parish. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 580, and there are 10 acres of glebe. The living is a rect.* in the dioc, of Norwich, val. 516, in the patron, of the Duchy of Lancaster. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, has a square tower containing five bells. The interior has been thoroughly restored. There are an endowed school and an infant school. At North Repps Hall, the prin- cipal residence, Sir Fowell Buxton died in 1845. Lord Suffield is lord of the manor.