Alfred Fuller, son of Frank Fuller, was an apprentice with Warners as a weaver. At the age of 16, he was chosen to weave the cloth of gold for Queen Elizabeth II Coronation armil (or stole). Produced on a small handloom, the cloth was woven in silk shot with a flat metal thread, 90% silver and 2.5% pure gold.
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rayneheritage.info@gmail.com
Travel Back In Time
Illuminating English History
Explore Rayne and Discover A Rich Heritage
Rayne has a rich heritage, with All Saints Parish Church as a centre for its community for over 1,000 years. Rayne has gradually grown to around 1,100 households with a current population of approximately 2,300.
Explore the Rayne Heritage Trail and All Saints Church using the Rayne Heritage App (click here to download) or pre-book on a Heritage guided tour or Church tour. Experience and gain an insight into Rayne’s past and its present.
The Rayne Heritage project has been created as part of a commitment to the Heritage Lottery Fund in return for its generous support for the renovation of All Saints Church.
Rayne Heritage Trail
The Rayne Heritage Trail offers a circular walking route that highlights some of the 67 Grade I and II listed structures in the village. The route is considered ‘easy walking’. If taken at a reasonable pace it should take approximately 1 ¼ hours to complete.
All Saints Church Guide
All Saints Parish Church has been a spiritual centre for more than a thousand years. Visitors can trace the evidence of past lives which illuminate English history and the changes we have been through as a nation. The Church Guide offers a descriptive path around that visible heritage, taking approximately 30 – 40 minutes to complete.
Rayne Heritage Resources
The research information gathered can be accessed by anyone who wishes to explore the story of Rayne and its inhabitants in greater detail.
Rayne Heritage Fun Facts
Rayne Foundry made brass replacement cogs for the clock mechanism of Big Ben.
Eliza Vaughan was the daughter of Rev. Matthew Vaughan, Vicar of Finchingfield. Her books included "The Essex Village", and a biography of Stephen Marshall, a Puritan Vicar from Finchingfield, who was Oliver Cromwell's favourite preacher.
Mr Arthur Richardson (known as 'Dick') was the Rayne postman from 1892 until 1936. He was responsible for two deliveries a day. It is recorded that in 24 years, he walked on his rounds 100,000 miles and, in 17 years, cycled over 133,000 miles.
Rayne once had its own jam and chutney making business "The British Preserving Company". Located on the south side of Rayne Station, it started in 1908 but closed down after five years.
The 1871 census shows that of the 189 males and 212 females who were employed, all were employed either on the farms; with tradesmen in the village; or in the silk mills in Braintree.
The punishment for talking at the Dame School was to stand on a stool visible from Gore Lane, with a red tongue tied to the pupil's head.
Mains electricity first came to Rayne in 1936.
During WW2, Adolf Heimann, a German wireless operator who was shot down, had considerable difficulty in surrendering. The landlady of The Oak at Great Saling didn't take him seriously, whilst the Rayne Foundry workers ignored him as they were due to start work. As the Rayne Home Guard also failed in their duties, he eventually succeeded by walking to Braintree.
The publician of the Swan pub was sent some casks of wine by French travellers, as he had been unable to offer them any.
With only four withdrawls, one of the least borrowed books from the Lending Library was Stephen Marshall, by E. Vaughan.
The wealthiest individual in Rayne at the time of Domesday, and consequently the highest tax payer, was The Bishop of London.
The Welsh Princess pub was previously called The Cherry Tree. The name was changed in 1981 to commemorate Lady Diana Spencer becoming the Princess of Wales.
Sir Thompson Capper CB, DSO, KCMG, Major General East Lancashire Regiment, was killed during the Battle of Loos on 27 Sept 1915. He was one of the fifteen most senior officers killed in WW1. His uncle was Rev. W S Hemming, consequently Capper spent much of his boyhood staying at Rayne Rectory. His inclusion on the Rayne War Memorial was at the special request of his family.
Rayne Heritage Gallery
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Visitor Testimonials
“I have lived in Rayne for over forty years but did not know there was such a wealth of history. Richard Bale’s presentation of the Rayne Heritage Trail was thorough and extremely interesting, in particular the information on historical figures.
I would recommend the Trail to everyone in Rayne and anyone who has an interest in Local History.”
I would recommend the Trail to everyone in Rayne and anyone who has an interest in Local History.”
Dr Roger Martin
"When I look at Rayne church now it has been refurbished it looks so lovely. It almost glows."
Pauline Nunn
"We went on the Rayne Church children’s trail. We had a great time and learned lots of things. Jamie really enjoyed ringing the bell and seeing things with the binoculars.”
Michelle Edwards
We have lived in Rayne for forty years. We love the Heritage Trail and think that it is a great thing for our village. We strongly recommend it.
Henry & Ellen Watkinson
I liked the trail because I like searching for things. I especially liked learning about why the Bible is so big. I enjoyed the activity where I used binoculars to look at the ceiling's patterns. Thank you from William, aged 8.
William
'I enjoyed the trail and learned a lot of things. I was fascinated about the Altar and finding out it was made of the wood from the pew, it looked so new! I also learned a lot about the font and the carvings. It was fun and very interesting. Thank you from Charlotte, aged 10
Charlotte
Thank you for a satisfying and informative website.
Susan J Dorey, California
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