Rayleigh, A History (Innbundet (stive permer))

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. Its market and fair made it one of the principal towns in south-east Essex throughout the medieval period, and many significant historic buildings from the 14th century onwards, including Holy Trinity Church, the Dutch Cottage and the windmill, survive. After a period of decline in the 18th and early 19th centuries the town's importance was revived by the coming of the railway in 1889: farms, nurseries and market gardens all prospered. Rapid development followed, and the 20th century saw massive expansion beyond the High Street area. This book offers a fresh, objective look at this important market town from an established local history author. For the first time, a full chronological history of Rayleigh, from the arrival of Stone-Age man on Hambro Hill to the modern commuter town of the early 21st century, has been written.The research sheds light on several periods that had previously been poorly documented, such as the first half of the 20th century, and includes a wide selection of splendid and previously unpublished illustrations. This book will be a welcome addition to the bookshelves of Rayleigh residents and local historians alike.