Rugby in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Rugby, market town and par., Warwickshire, on river Avon, 15 miles NE. of Warwick, 30 SE. of Birmingham, and 83 NW. of London by rail, 2190 ac., pop. 9891; P.O., T.O, 2 Banks, 3 newspapers. Market-day, Saturday. Rugby is an ancient place, but it first came into prominent notice in the 18th century in connection with its school, which was founded in 1567 by Lawrence Sheriff, a native of the neighbouring village of Brownsover, and which has risen under a series of able headmasters, including Dr Arnold, to be one of the first public schools in England. The school occupies a splendid range of buildings in the Elizabethan style, possesses an endowment estimated at from £5000 to £6000 a year, and has usually from 400 to 500 boys; it induces many wealthy families to settle in the place. Rugby has become an important railway centre, and has consequently a very extensive transit trade. It has no mfrs. of note, but it has large fairs for horses, cattle, and sheep.