Rayleigh Windmill

A £340,000 revamp of the historic grade II listed Rayleigh Windmill including a structural renovation of the 19th century brick built building has now been completed. The money granted by Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership funded the renovation of The Windmill together with further improvements to the town centre. The project aims were to help regenerate Rayleigh, enhance its attractiveness and encourage tourism.

The basic external brickwork has been repaired and the interior has been transformed to provide four storeys of modern display facilities which has turned The Windmill into a major tourist and educational attraction in the county. The changes to The Windmill have enabled the public to view the interior and to utilise this local historic amenity for cultural, educational and tourism use..

The first floor of The Windmill contains an accredited museum with particular emphasis placed on photos, archives, wartime, domestic, farming and business items that have a direct link to Rayleigh. The related documents below will take you to the full catalogue of items that is displayed in The Windmill (The items are displayed on a rotational basis that is reviewed periodically). The second floor houses exhibition space and the top floor displays information about Rayleigh Mount. The Windmill can now also host civil ceremonies on the ground floor, for more information on Civil Ceremonies please see the Related Links section below

For access information regarding the Windmill and Sensory garden please see the Related Links section below.

Rayleigh Windmill Education Resource

In 2009, the Rayleigh Windmill celebrated its 200th anniversary with a year-long project called Sails in the Wind, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The celebrations programme included a new dance and song about the Windmill, a public art sculpture in the Rayleigh Sensory Garden, a new exhibition inside the Windmill Museum and an Educational Resource Pack which is available to download by scrolling down to the ‘Related Documents’ section. The Rayleigh Windmill Education Resource was researched and developed by the Heritage Education Unit at the Essex Records Office with local primary school teachers from Rayleigh.

Visit England Accreditation

Rayleigh Windmill has recently achieved the accreditation of Quality Assured Visitor Attraction from Visit England.

Visit England is a national body that assess visitor attractions throughout the country.

The report praised the warm welcome offered by the volunteers as well as their enthusiasm and knowledge.

This year we have arranged for several exhibitions to be held in the windmill, please call the Leisure Team for details.

Opening Times

The Windmill, which is located in Bellingham Lane is open from April to September and entry is free of charge.

The Windmill is now closed for the winter.

Additional open day Wednesday 15th February 2012.

The Windmill will be open from April - September 2012

Wednesday 10:00 - 1:00pm
Saturday 1:00 - 4:00pm
Sunday 1:00 - 4:00pm

School/group visits may still be booked, subject to volunteer availability.

Please call the Leisure Team on 01702 546 366 for more information or please see the Group Visit Heritage Guide in related documents below.

Exhibitions

A full programme is currently being planned, information will appear shortly.

Further information regarding The Windmill can be obtained by contacting the Leisure Team on 01702 546366 or via email on leisure@rochford.gov.uk  

How do you rate this information / service?