Ringwood

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 50.85
longitude= -1.78
official_name= Ringwood
population= 12,567
shire_district= New Forest
shire_county= Hampshire
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= New Forest West
post_town= RINGWOOD
postcode_district = BH24
postcode_area= BH
dial_code= 01425
os_grid_reference= SU1505

Ringwood is a town in Hampshire, England, which is located on the River Avon, west of the New Forest and north of Bournemouth. The town was traditionally an agricultural centre but, since the closure of its cattle market in 1989, it has increasingly become a dormitory town.

The BBC television comedy series "The Brittas Empire" was filmed at Ringwood Health and Leisure Centre.

Ringwood is the home of the Ringwood Brewery, which produces a variety of cask ales and run five pubs in the local area such as The Inn on the Furlong in Ringwood. Ringwood brewery also produce a variety of wines. It was recently taken over by Marston's Brewery who plan to keep the brewery and all its brands, but lease out its tied public houses.

Nearby, Matchams Leisure Park is known for various forms of motor sport including motorcross, go-karting and stock car racing.

Facilities for children

There are several Girl Guide and Scout groups in Ringwood catering for school-aged children. There are also many other clubs for children including sporting clubs at the Health and Leisure Centre. There is a skate park in Carvers Field, and many play parks for younger children.

The senior school in Ringwood is Ringwood School, a specialist Language College. The state primary schools are Ringwood Junior, Poulner Junior, Ringwood Infants and Poulner Infants. There is also a Waldorf school near a Camphill community.

Ringwood School has a radio station run by students which started in 2006. The school also participates in other citizenship projects.

History

According to William Camden’s Britannia (1607) [ [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/ William Camden’s Britannia (1607) in Latin and English] - The Philological Museum Library of Humanistic Texts] the name was originally Regnewood. It was listed in the Domesday Book as Rincewed. It meant 'the wood of the Regni', the Regni being an ancient people of Britain.

After the Battle of Sedgemoor on 6 July 1685, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth was arrested near Horton (Monmouth is believed to have hid in a ditch under an ash tree disguised as a shepherd but was betrayed by a local woman who, according to legend, later killed herself in remorse.) and taken to the now named Monmouth House in West Street (between the Market Place and the Fish Inn). It was here that he wrote a letter to James II begging remorse. It was not granted, and he was brought to trial in the Tower of London by the infamous 'Hanging Judge Jefferies.'

Also after the battle of Sedgemoor an elderly local lady, Alice Lisle, gave refuge to two wanted men who were escaping the battle. When her home—Moyles Court (now a private school)—was raided, the men were found and Alice was arrested. She was sentenced to be burned at the stake by the same Judge Jefferies; she received a late reprieve, and the sentence was reduced to beheading. She is buried at St Mary's Church, Ellingham, some two miles from her Moyles Court home. Her tomb can be found to the right of the church entrance; it is easily spotted as the lid has been left unfinished with rough edges. There is now a pub called The Alice Lisle near to Moyles Court.

References