Rayleigh is a market town and civil parish in the Rochford District in Essex, England; it is located between Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea, 32 miles east of central London. It had a population of 32,150 at the census in 2011.
Rayleigh is an historic market town and is the main centre of population in the Rochford District. The town has retained much of its traditional character and is a busy shopping centre, well served by bus and train. A market is held on Wednesday mornings and dates back to 1181, when it was registered in the Exchequer Records of Henry II.
Rayleigh is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The manor of Rayleigh belonged to Sweyne of Essex, the son of Robert FitzWimarc who built a Norman Motte and Bailey castle in Rayleigh. The location is at Rayleigh Mount, which is today owned and maintained by the National Trust. From the top, there are sweeping views across the Crouch Valley.
The word "Rayleigh" is said to derive from two Anglo-Saxon words, "Roe", a deer, and "leigh" a clearing.
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