The ancient market town of Rayleigh is rich in both its history and in the historians who have told the tale. Limelight Lantern lectures were first shown in 1884, when the population was just over 1,000, the railway had not yet arrived, and the roads were at best comprised of compacted earth with granite chippings and had no drainage. That tradition continues today as historians continue to explore Rayleigh through slideshows, lectures and books. During the ensuing 128 years, the stories of the motte and bailey castle, the martyrs burnt at the stake, the windmills, and the rapid development once the railway arrived in 1889 have not lost their fascination. The photographs in this book, most of which have not been seen in print before, present Rayleigh’s rich and varied heritage in vivid detail, from its origins as a small agricultural village to the thriving town of today.