RUTHIN, Denbighshire, a market-town, municipal and parlia mentary borough, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, is situated in 53° 7' N. hit., 3° 18' W. long., distant 8 milea S.E. from Denbigh, and 105 miles N.W. by W. from London. The population of the parlia mentary borough of Ruthin in 1851 was 3373. The borough is governed by 4 aldermen and 12 councillors, one of whom is mayor; and is contributory to the borough of Denbigh in returning one member to tho Imperial Parliament. The living is a wardenship, with a rectory annexed, iu the archdeaconry of Mcrioneth and diocese of Bangor, Ruthin Poor-Law Union contains 21 parishes and townships, with an area of 92,853 acres, and a population in 1851 of 16,853.
Ruthin is situated on the summit and slope of a considerable hill, at the foot of which flows the Clwyd. The town appears to have grown up gradually around the castle, which was built by Roger Gray, to whom Edward I. granted nearly the whole of the vale of Clwyd. The castle stood on the western elope of the hill towards the river. General 3fytton took the castle for the parliamentarians, after which it was dismantled. It appears to have been a capacious and lofty building. A new gothic castellated edifice, presentiug a very fine appearance, has been erected on the site of the ancient castle, by Frederick R. West, Esq., M.P. for the Denbighshire boroughs. The round towers of the ancient castle remain. The town is lighted with gas. The summit of the hill is occupied by the market-place, to which the principal streets lead. The county-hall or court-house is the finest building for judicial purposes in North Wales. The county prison is
well built. The church is the choir of the conventual church of a community of Bonhommes (suppressed in 1310), and afterwards rendered collegiate. The roof of the present church is admired for its curious workmanship. Part of the cloisters have been converted into a residence for the warden of Christ's Hospital. The Wesleyan Methodists, Welsh Independents, Baptists, and other Dissenters, have places of worship. Dr. Gabriel Goodman, whose monument is in the church, founded, in 1592, Christ's Hospital for a warden and 12 decayed housekeepers. The warden has the government of the Free school, which was also founded and endowed by Dr. Goodman. It is under the care of a head-master and two other masters, and is accounted one of the best schools in North Wales. In 1854 the number of scholar% was 30. A lending library is attached to it; and there are also con nected with the school several exhibitions. The school and hospital constitute the of Christ's Hospital in Ruthin.' In the town are National and British schools, a young men's library, end a savings bank. A. soda-water manufactory has been carried ou suc cessfully for several years. The market for corn is held on Monday, that for meat on Saturday; six fairs are held in the year. The assizes for the county are held at Ruthin : the quarter sessions are held alternately at Ruthin and Denbigh. A county court is held.