Rayleigh
Rayleigh is a Town in the county of Essex.
There are great places to visit near Rayleigh including some great towns, castles, woodlands, airports, historic buildings, cities, villages, country parks, shopping centres, parks and nature reserves.
Colchester, Epping, Maldon, Southend-on-Sea, Saffron Walden, Braintree, and Basildon are great places to visit near Rayleigh if you like towns.
Places near Rayleigh feature a number of interesting castles including Colchester Castle.
Rayleigh's best nearby woodlands can be found at Epping Forest, and Bedfords Park.
There are a several good airports in the Rayleigh area like London Southend Airport, and London Stansted Airport.
The area around Rayleigh boasts some of the best historic buildings including Audley End House and Gardens, and Chelmsford Cathedral.
Chelmsford is a great place to visit close to Rayleigh if you like cities.
There are a number of villages near to Rayleigh including Hatfield Peverel.
There are a number of country parks near to Rayleigh including Thorndon Country Park.
Shopping Centres to visit near Rayleigh include Lakeside Shopping Centre.
There are a several good parks in the area around Rayleigh like Bedfords Park.
Places near Rayleigh feature a number of interesting nature reserves including Bedfords Park.
Rayleigh History
There are some historic monuments around Rayleigh:
Places to see near Rayleigh
History of Rayleigh
By the end of the Saxon period, there was definitely a village here, as it is recorded in the Domesday Book, when it was held by Swein of Essex, the son of Robert FitzWimarc. The most significant historic monument in Rayleigh is the great medieval mound of Rayleigh Castle. This was an early Norman motte and bailey castle, of which only the motte and its surrounding embankments remain. Despite the loss of its timber superstructure and later stone buildings, its height and bulk mean that it still dominates the town centre. A courthouse was erected in Rayleigh in 1338. This was apparently resented by the townspeople, who turned out in force to destroy it, with 20 ringleaders later arrested and tried.
