Rayleigh
Through the Looking Glass
Rayleigh Tower Mill Built 1809
Happy 200th Birthday
Some interesting facts:
At 68 feet the tallest in Essex
6 floors – walls 4 feet 6 inches thick at the base
Milled grain for approximately 150 years.
Machinery driven by wind/steam/diesel/electric
Originally had 3 pairs of grinding stones
Thomas Higgs a local timber merchant purchased the plot in 1808
N Harvey a bricklayer on the construction inscribed ‘N
Harvey 1809’ in the brickwork -
visible to the left of the entrance
Mill offered for sale in 1812
Sails taken down in 1906
Site of ‘Rayleigh Bath Chair Murder’ in 1943
Windmills in Rayleigh date from circa 1310.
At one time there were at least 5 mills in Rayleigh
Have you visited the Windmill?
Open April to September
(Wednesday
10-
may be closed on occasions.
Refer to Rochford District Council Website (click here)
Attractions include
Rayleigh Historical Society Museum,
National Trust Display of Rayleigh Castle/Mount &
Temporary exhibitions.
If you live locally 2 of our slide shows, as part of the Windmill Birthday celebrations, are available to the public.
Please see the slide shows page for details.
Do you have any interesting information on our town’s mill or perhaps you may have a question.
Please get in touch
Previous Updates
March 2009 Update -
Slide Shows 2018 |
Slide Shows 2019 |
Previous Updates |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
January 2018 - Shops |
February 2018 - RUDC |
March 2018 - High Street 4 |
April 2018 - London Hill 2 |
May 2018 - Bellingham Lane 2 |
June 2018 - DIY |
July 2018 - Clothing Shops |
August 2018 - Eastwood Road 3 |