Located in the county of Essex, and around 35 miles east of central London, is the town of Rayleigh.
The name 'Rayleigh' is derived from Old English: 'rǣge', meaning female roe deer and 'lēah', meaning clearing, so literally a 'clearing in the woods for female deer'. Shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066, a castle was built here, and was the only castle in Essex mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. All that remains of it today is the earthwork of its motte and bailey.
The earliest record of a market in Rayleigh dates back to 1181 during the reign of Henry II. The forests surrounding the town were traditionally royal hunting grounds with records showing that Henry III hunted here in 1222. During Henry VIII's reign, deer were taken from Rayleigh to replenish the herds in Greenwich Park in southeast London.
At the top of the High Street is Holy Trinity Church, which dates back to the 12th century, with 14th-16th century additions. It is Grade II listed. Another iconic building in the town is Rayleigh Windmill. This was built in 1809, and was powered by wind up until 1907. The cap and sails were removed around 1909 and the mill was then powered by steam, then oil and finally an electric motor until at least 1937. In 1970 the mill was repurposed as a museum. Like the church, it is also Grade II listed. The windmill exterior, along with its adjoining garden, is visited at the end of the walk.
In 1889 the railway arrived in Rayleigh courtesy of the Great Eastern Railway. Today it sits on the Shenfield-Southend line which provides access to London Liverpool Street in under 45 minutes via a change at Shenfield station, as well as access to Southend-on-Sea in under 20 minutes.
In 1999 the Millennium Clock was unveiled in Rayleigh where it stands to this day at the intersection of High Street and Bellingham Lane.
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Filmed: 23rd February 2022
Link to the walk on Google Maps: goo.gl/maps/FZmruF9ukeMRv6mN7
Filmed on a Sony FDR-AX700 with a Zhiyun Crane 2 and a Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 High Street
3:14 Eastwood Road
6:33 High Street
11:19 Holy Trinity Church
11:29 High Street
11:47 Church Street
12:16 London Hill
13:15 Bellingham Lane
15:23 Rayleigh Windmill (built 1809, now a museum & event space)
16:11 The Windmill Garden