Manor—Ringstead not being mentioned in the Domesday survey, appears to have been comprehended in the manor of Raunds, as a member of Higham. In the reign of Edward III a portion of it was in the hands of the family of Broune, and so it continued for several generations; and in the reign of James I Henry Lord Mordaunt died seized of a manor here. The Tresham family possessed considerable property here, which in the reign of Henry VIII passed to the Pyckerings. When Bridges wrote, more than a century since, Mrs Creed, of Barnwell, was lady of the manor.

The Village of Ringstead, which is large and irregularly built, is seated about 2½ miles S. by W. of Thrapston. The inhabitants are principally occupied in shoemaking and agriculture. The Peterborough branch of the London and North Western Railway passes through, and has a station about a mile from the village.

The Church, dedicated to St Mary, consists of nave, chancel, north aisle, chantry, north and south porches—the latter being beautifully arched—vestry, tower, and spire containing six bells. It was thoroughly restored in 1863 at a cost of about £2000; the Incorporated Society for the Building, &c., of Churches contributed £80 towards the reseating. The sittings, which are open, are of varnished deal, and the roof is also open and of the same material. The flooring of the body is of plain tile, and that of the chancel of the mosaic pattern. On the north side is the clerestory, extending the length of the chantry. The east window of five lights, of handsome design, is in the Early Decorated style. The chancel stalls are of the same design as the old ones. At the west end are several mural tablets, but possessing no particular historic interest. The spire is a very pretty object from the opposite side of the river, forming one of a series, embracing Thrapston, Denford, Raunds, Stanwick, and Higham Ferrers, all visible at the same time. The living is a discharged vicarage annexed to that of Denford, in the deanery of Higham Ferrers, patronage of Miss Leggat, and incumbency of the Rev. Edward Sandford. The tithes, great and small, have been commuted for land.

Here is a Baptist Chapel, a stone building, erected in 1848, on the site of an old one, built in 1720, at a cost of £300, and will seat about 300. Here is a mural tablet erected by the congregation to the memory of the Rev. Leonard Joseph Abington, twelve years pastor of the mission. Rev. William Kitchen is the present minister.

The Wesleyan Chapel, of brick with stone dressings, was built in 1857 at a cost of £416, and will seat 250.

The National School, with master's house attached, was erected in 1867, at a cost of £860, and is now (1874) being enlarged at a further cost of £160. It is a handsome building, capable of accommodating 200 pupils, and is attended by an average of 100.

The Temperance Hall, a brick building, was erected in 1861 by subscription, at a cost of about £200. It will accommodate 200.

The Charities of Ringstead are the charity estate, consisting of 27 acres of land, which lets for £51, and a lime-kiln, which lets for £7, 12s., making a total of £58, 12s., two-thirds of which go to the support of the school, and the remainder to the aged poor.

COTTONS. There were formerly three several enclosed innships, or demolished hamlets, in the liberties of Raunds and Ringstead. In Raunds was West Cotton, and a part of Mallows Cotton, and in Ringstead is Cotton House, or Mill Cotton, and the other part of Mallows Cotton. At Mill Cotton are some remains of an entrenchment, consisting of a high bank of earth, enclosed within a deep ditch. From an urn which was found within the ditch, and which contained ashes, it is supposed to have been a Roman work. Several Roman coins have been found in the fields above Mill Cotton; and at Mallows Cotton is a knot of small closes on the bank of the river, where are vestiges of a town as appears from fragments and foundations which have been discovered. The family of Chamberleyn formerly possessed the manor of Cotes and from them it passed to the Pickerings. There was a chapel at Cotton, in which the minister of Shelton, in Bedfordshire, officiated once a month.

Biography—Leonard Joseph Abington, 12 years pastor of the Baptist chapel of the parish, who was born in London on the 11th June 1763, and died in 1842 in the 79th year of his age. He was of an ancient family, and was a classical scholar of fair repute, and the author of the works entitled "Letters from the Dead to the Living," "Consummation," a poem, "The Living Temple," "The Rebellion of Korah," a sacred drama, &c.

Post-Office—William Bradshaw, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive from Thrapston 7.15 A.M. and 2 P.M., and are despatched 4.35 P.M. on week days only.