Rayleigh Windmill

Site overview

Rayleigh Windmill is a six-storey brick tower corn mill on Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh. Built in 1809 for Thomas Higgs, it worked commercially through the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, with wind power later supplemented by steam, oil, and electric power. The cap and sails were removed around 1909, after the end of regular wind working, and the mill continued in mechanical use until at least the 1930s.

It was opened as a museum in 1970, externally restored with a new cap and sails in the 1970s, and later repaired again in the early twenty-first century. The Grade II listed tower survives as a restored landmark beside Rayleigh Mount.

Map

Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.

No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.

History

Rayleigh Windmill was built in 1809 for Thomas Higgs, a timber merchant of Rayleigh. It was a substantial six-storey brick tower corn mill with a Kentish cap, four sails, a cast-iron windshaft, fantail winding, and three pairs of millstones. The tower was built with very thick brickwork and stood about 60 feet high to the top of the cap.

Thomas Higgs became bankrupt in 1815, and the mill was sold to William Hart of Woodham Mortimer in 1817. Hart later sold it to George Britton in 1845. In 1869 the mill passed to John and Samuel Britton, and £150 was spent putting it into repair. The Britton brothers left Rayleigh in 1884 and were bankrupt in 1886. Thomas James Brown then became associated with the mill and was the last miller to work it by wind, around 1907.

The cap and sails were removed around 1909. After the loss of wind power, the mill continued to work with auxiliary power, first by steam engine, then by oil engine, and later by electric motor. Green Bros were associated with the mill in 1937. The mill later stood for many years without machinery, cap, or sails, and was used as a store.

Rayleigh and District Antiquarian and Natural History Society took over the mill for museum use, and it formally opened on 16 May 1970. Rayleigh Urban District Council launched an appeal in 1972 to restore the mill externally as a landmark. By autumn 1974, millwrights John Lawn and Philip Barrett-Lennard had made and fitted a new cap and sails. Further restoration work costing £340,000 was carried out in 2005 with Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership funding. Rayleigh Windmill remains a Grade II listed historic tower mill and a prominent restored feature of the town.

Timeline

1809

Tower mill built

Rayleigh Windmill was built in 1809 for Thomas Higgs, a timber merchant of Rayleigh.

1817

Mill sold to William Hart

After Thomas Higgs became bankrupt, the mill was sold to William Hart of Woodham Mortimer.

1845

George Britton acquired mill

William Hart sold the mill to George Britton.

1869

Mill repaired under Britton ownership

The mill passed to John and Samuel Britton and £150 was spent putting it into repair.

1907

Wind working ended

Thomas James Brown was the last miller to work the mill by wind, around 1907.

1909

Cap and sails removed

The cap and sails were removed around 1909 after the end of wind working.

1937

Auxiliary-powered milling continued

The mill continued in use by auxiliary power until at least 1937.

1957

Grade II listing

Rayleigh Windmill was listed at Grade II.

1970

Opened as museum

The windmill formally opened as a museum on 16 May 1970.

1972–1974

External restoration undertaken

A public restoration appeal led to the fitting of a new cap and sails by autumn 1974.

2005

Major restoration funded

Restoration work costing £340,000 was funded by the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership.

Rayleigh Windmill Rayleigh · Essex · England