The Martyrs' Memorial

The Martyrs' Memorial, just outside Rayleigh Lanes Market, is of special significance to The FitzWimarc School. The four local Protestant martyrs, Ardeley, Causton, Drakes and Tyms, died in 1555 during Queen Mary's reign. They were burned at the stake, two in Rayleigh High Street, possibly where the memorial now stands, and two in Smithfield Market, London.

The four FitzWimarc school houses are named after them.

The memorial was erected in 1908 and, it is said, that when the site was levelled for the monument, a burned stake was found in the ground.

© 2004 G. Jones