RICHMOND, North Riding of Yorkshire, the capital of the exten sive baronial liberty of Richmondshire, a market-town, municipal and parliamentary borough, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the pariah of Richmond, is situated in 54° 25' N. lat., 1° 44' W. long., distant 44 miles N.W. from York, 233 miles N.N.W. from Londou by road, and 240 miles by the Great Northern and York and Newcastle railways. Tho population of the parliamentary borough of Richmond in 1851 was 4969; that of the municipal borough 4106. It is governed by 4 aldermen and 12 councillors, of whom one is mayor ; and returns 2 members to the Imperial Parliament. The living is a rectory in the archdeacoury of Itichmend and diocese of Ripou. Richmond Poor-Law Union contains 41 parishee and townships, with an area of 78,569 acres, and a population in 1851 of 13,846.
Alan Rufus, NM of Heel, count of Bretagne, a kinsman of William the Conqueror, who accompanied hlm in his expedition to England, obtained from William the title of Earl of Richmond, and the estates of the Saxon Earl Edwin, embracing nearly 200 manors and town ships, and a jurisdiction over all Richrnondshire, about a third of the North Riding. These posseasione fell to the crown on Henry, earl of Richmond, becoming king of England by the title of Henry VII. Charlie II. bestowed the title of Duke of Richmond on his son Charles Lennox, in whose descendants the dignity continues. The castle is situated on an almost perpendicular rock on the left bank of the Swale, about 100 feet above the bed of the river. The walks around the castle present a succession of varied and romantic aoeuery. Of the castle, the bold Norman keep is still almost entire ; the walls are nearly 100 feet high and 11 feet thick. A small monastery, called the Gray Friary, was founded at Richmond in 1258 ; of the building only a steeple remains.
Richmond is said to have been a place of good trade for three centuries after the Conquest, but it subsequently declined. The town
is lighted with gas, and is well supplied with water. The town-hall is a convenient building; in It the quarter-sessions are held both for the town and the North Riding. It contains a spacious assembly-room. Tho railway station and bridge over the Swale are handsome structures. The parish church is a gothic building, with portions of Normal' cha racter, and consists of a nave, chancel, and aisles, with a tower at the west. end. Holy Trinity chapel etands in the market-place. The Wesleyan Methudists, Independents, and Roman Catholics have places of worship. Richmond Free Grammar school was incorporated by Queen Elizabeth. A new school-house has been erected by public subscription in memory of the Rev. Canon Tate, the late head-master. The reboot has an income from endowment of 2704 a year, with six scholarships at Oxford, Cambridge, and Durham, and had 60 scholars in 1854. There are also the Corporation school, in which 50 boys are taught ; National and Infant schools ; a school supported by Roman Catholics; a scientific society, with a library of 4400 volumes; a mechanics institute, with about 700 volumes in its library ; a news room ; a savings bank ; and various charities. The market is held on Saturday, and fairs are held five times in the year. A cattle-fair is held on the moor. Iron and brass founding, rope-making, and tanoiog are carried on. Thera are several corn-mills. The only manufactory is an extensivo paper-milL Many wealthy families reside in the town, and the country for several miles round Is studded with tho parka and mansions of landed proprietors. Races are held in the first week of September on the high moor about a mile from the town.