Rayleigh owes its origins to the flints on Hambro Hill, which attracted its first human residents as long ago as the Stone Age. In Saxon times the focus moved to the area covered by the modern High Street, but it was not until Rayleigh Castle was built under the Normans that the town really came to life.

The word "Rayleigh" is said to derive from two Anglo-Saxon words, "Roe", a deer, and "leigh" a clearing. The Rayleigh Windmill is over 200 years old and is a museum and popular venue for weddings. The Windmill, an 18th C. octagonal Dutch Cottage and Holy Trinity Church are the three most famous landmarks.

Rayleigh, an ancient market town in Essex, boasts a rich history that dates back over a thousand years, with fascinating tales and enduring landmarks to testify to its illustrious past.