RAPHOE. 283 RASHARKIN. Killea, Kiltevoge, Leek, Raphoe, Namoghy, Stranorlar, Taughboyne, and parts of Conwal and Urney. RAPHOE, a par., post and market town in the bar. of Raphoe, co. Donegal, prov. of Ulster, Ireland, 137 miles from Dublin. The par. is 7 miles long, and its greatest breadth is 5 miles. The surface is mostly well cultivated, and is crossed by the road from Lifford to Letterkenny. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Raphoe, val. 826, in the patron, of the crown. The church, which serves as the cathedral of the diocese, was founded by St. Unan in the llth century. It is a cruci- form structure, and has a tower, added at a later date. There is a Presbyterian meeting-house, also several day- schools, in the parish. The town is situated on the road from Strabane to Stranorlar, near Raphoe Hill, and con- sists chiefly of a market-place and three small streets diverging therefrom. It contains a chief police station and court-house, in which petty sessions are held at fre- quent intervals. Here are also the deanery, Forster's free school, Charles I.'s grammar schools (adjoining which is a library), Bishop Forster's almshouses for four clergymen's widows, and a dispensary. Raphoe appears to have originated in a large monastic establishment, founded by St. Columb, and was anciently called Rath- both. The monastery was restored early in the 8th century, and the diocese of Raphoe was then established. It is now annexed to Derry, and forms part of the eccle- siastical province of Armagh. The chapter consists of a dean, archdeacon, and four prebendaries. Ruins of the catle, which was surrendered to Cromwell, and subse- quently destroyed by the troops of James II., are still remaining. Greenhill is among the principal residences. Saturday is market day. Fairs are held on 1st May, 22nd June, 27th August, and 4th November. RAPLEYS, a district in the par. of Shalbourn, co. Berks, 3 miles S.W. of Hungerford. RAPLOCH, a vil. in the par. and co. of Stirling, Scotland. It is a suburb of Stirling, situated about three-quarters of a mile from the bridge, and imme- diately under the castle. This was the birthplace of Dougald Grahame, the bellman of Glasgow, who com- posed numerous ballads, and penny histories. RAPNESS, a promontory on the E. side of Westray, Orkney Isles, coast of Scotland. RAPPS, a tythg. in the par. of Broadway, co. Somer- set, 2 miles N.W. of Ilminstcr. RAPSGATE, a hund. in the co. of Gloucester, con- tains the pars, of Brimpsfield, North Cerney, Chedworth, Colesborne, Cowley, Cranham, Cubberley, Elkstone, Rendcombe, Side, and part of Duntisbourne-Abbotts, comprising an area of 26,900 acres. RASAY, or RASSAY, a small island in the par. of Glenelg, co. Inverness, Scotland, 5 miles S.E. of Broad- ford. It is situated in Slate Sound. RASAY, a feeder of the river Conan, rises near Contin, co. Ross, Scotland. RASAY, or RAASAY, an island in the par. of Portree, co. Inverness, Scotland. It is situated on the E. side of Skye, from which it is divided by Rasay Sound, about 4 miles in width. It extends about 14 miles in length, with an extreme breadth of 3 miles. The surface is hilly, the greatest altitude being at Dunlan Mountain, which rises 1,600 feet above sea level. The prevailing rocks are gneiss, porphyry, oolite, and sandstone. The E. side of the southern district is interspersed with arable lands and farm dwellings, but the rest of the island is chiefly pasture and moorland. Rasay House has been the seat of the Macleod family for a consider- able period. Broichel Castle is of great antiquity, and formerly belonged to a person designated "John the 1 a,," ancestor of the above-named family; it is situated in a small bay on the E. coast, and its approach is steep and difficult. RASEN, MARKET, a par., post and market town in tin/ v.ap. .1 Walshcroft, co. Lincoln, 9 miles S. of r, and 13 N.E. of Lincoln. It is a station on the Hull and Lincoln section of the Manchester, Sheffield, ami Lincolnshire line of railway. It is a prosperous little town situated on the river Rasen, which rises in TOL. in. the Wolds close by, and thence flows 7 miles to join the river Ancholme. It chiefly consists of one long street, forming part of the road from Louth to Lincoln, and is well paved and lighted with gas. The public buildings are the corn exchange, market hall, county court, dispensary, mechanics' institution, and gasworks. It is a polling-place for the county election, and a petty sessions town, the sessions being held every alternate Monday. There is a bank, also a savings-bank. Bricks and tiles are extensively made. The surrounding country is fertile. The soil is sandy, upon a substratum of clay. The greater part of the parish is in grass lands. The tithes were commuted for land under an Enclosure Act in 1779. The living is a vie. * in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 233. The church, dedicated to St. Thomas, is an ancient structure, built of friable sandstone, with an embattled tower con- taining six bells. The interior of the church contains numerous monuments, and on the outside of the tower, at the southern angle, is a representation of Adam and Eve under a fruit tree. The register dates from 1561. The parochial charities produce about 135 per annum. There are almshouses founded by G. H. Paul and Lady Warwick, also almshouses for Roman Catholics, built ill 1841. There is a National school for both sexes, which is partly endowed, also a Roman Catholic school. The Independents, Wesleyans, Reformed Wesleyans, Roman Catholics, and Primitive Methodists have each a place of worship. There is also a chapel, situated on the site of a newly-formed cemetery on the E. side of the town. Captain W. Conway Gordon, Esq., is lord of the manor. Market day is on Tuesday for corn and provisions, and a cattle market is held every other Tuesday, from Palm Sunday to Michaelmas. Cattle fairs are held on the fourth Thursday in Lent, and on 25th September. RASEN, MIDDLE, a par. in the S. div. of the wap. of Walshcroft, co. Lincoln, 1 mile N.W. of Market- Rasen, its post town. The village, which is consider- able, is situated on the road from Louth to Gains- borough, and is wholly agricultural. The par. comprises the limits, of Rasen Tupholme and Rasen Drax, each of which has a separate living. The tithes of both vicar- ages were commuted for land at the enclosure of the parish. The living consists of two vicarages in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. jointly 313. The church of Tupholme has a Roman entrance, but is in a bad state of repair. It is dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul. In the church of Drax is an ancient altar-tomb of a priest. The charities produce about 20 per annum, exclusive of 2 acres of land, which goes towards the support of a school. The Wesleyans, Reformed Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists have each a place of worship. At the enclosure of the parish an allot- ment of 19 acres of land was made for the poor, now yielding 20 per annum. RASEN, WEST, a par. in the N. div. of the wap. of Walshcroft, parts of Lindsey, co. Lincoln, 3 miles W. of Market Rasen, its post town. The village, which is of small extent, is situated on the road from Bawtry to Louth, and near the river Rasen, and is wholly agri- cultural. The surface is undulating, and the soil chiefly a rich loam. About two-thirds of the land are arable, and the remainder pasture and woodland. The tithes were commuted for land in 1803. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 543. The church, dedi- cated to All Saints, has four octagonal turrets surmounted by castellated tower coronets, and containing three bells. It has been repaired and enlarged at various times. The register dates from 1683. There is a National school. Lord Herries is lord of the manor. RASH, a hmlt. in the chplry. of Muker, par. of Grinton, North Riding co. York, 2 miles from Muker, and 58 N.W. of York. It is situated on the moorlands, under Shunner Fell. RASHARKIN, a par. in the bar. of Kilconway, co. Antrim, prov. of Ulster, Ireland, 8 miles N.W. of Bally- money, its post town. It is 6 miles long by 6 broad. The surface comprises a considerable proportion of mountain, bog, and waste land, with some good soil. The road from Kilrea to Ballymena traverses the parish,
