RICHMOND, Surrey, a town, and the seat of a Poorstaw Union, in the pariah of Richmond, is situated on the right bank of the river Thames, in 51' 27' N. lat., V 18' W. long., distant 21 miles N.H. from Guildford, 12 miles W.S.W. from London by road, and 10 miles by the Windsor branch of the London and South-Western railway. The population of the village of Richmond in 1851 was 9065. The living is • vicarage in the archdesconry of Surrey and diocese of Winchester. Richmond Poor-Law Union contains five parishes, with an area of 4839 acres, and a population in 1851 of 15,906.
The original name of the village was Schene or Schoen, afterwards altered to Sheen. Henry I. had a palace hero. Chaucer the poet was clerk or surveyor of the works to the palace of Sheen In the reign of Richard IL In 1499, while Henry VII. was residing in it, the palace was destroyed by an accidental fire. Henry caused it to be rebuilt, and called it Richmond, from his own earldom. Henry died in his new palace in 1609. It was in Richmond palace that Elizabeth died In 1603. The palace was in part demolished by order of the parlia ment during the period of the commonwealth. Tho remainder was pulled down In the next century with the exception of some of the offices, which are still standing. The site is now occupied by private houses. The park, which was attached to the palace, is now known as the Old Park : it lies on the north-west and north sides of the village; and extends along the Thames to Kew Gardens, with which it was united by George III. The park now known as Richmond Park is to the south-east of the village. It was inclosed by Charles L, in whose time it was called 'the New Park :' it is about eight miles round, inclosed by a brick wall, and comprehend,' 2253 acres. The scenery of Richmond park eminently picturesque. A Carthusian
priory, which was established here at an early period, was restored after the general suppression by Queen Mary I., but existed at Rich mond only a year Richmond is delightfully situated on the side and summit of an eminence on the banks of the Thames, over which there Is a blurt some alone bridge of five arches, erected in 1777 at a coat of 26,0004 Along the brow of the hill is a terrace, commanding a prospect of exceeding richness and beauty; and along the banks of the river are delightful 1.11as and grounds. Richmond is a favourite place of resort in summer for the inhabitants of London, with which there is at that season communication several times a day by steam-boats. The town is well paved, and is lighted with gas. The parish church is a plain brick building of modern erection, except the tower, which is of flint and stone, and of perpendicular character. In the church or churchyard are monuments to the poet Thomson, Kean the trage dian, Gilbert Wakefield, Dr. John Moore, and other persons of celebrity. St. John's district church was erected in 1831. There are chapels for Independents, Baptists, Wesleyan Methodists, and Roman Catholics ; a Commercial school; several National-schools ; an Indus trial school for girls; two Infant schools; and a Roma!! Catholic schooL On Richmond Hill is the Wesleyan Methodist Theological Institution for the education of young marl for the ministry. Tho building is a very handsome one, 248 feet long by 65 feet deep, with projecting wings: it is in the Tudor collegiate style. There are a literary and scientific institution, a young men's mutual instruction society, a dispensary, and a savings bank. There are market-gardens and nursery-grounds in the vicinity.