From “Peculiar People” to townsfolk enjoying the carnival during the roaring twenties, these glorious nostalgic photos give a glimpse into what Rayleigh used to be like.

The historical images, all courtesy of the Rayleigh Town Museum, are taken from the Rayleigh Calendar 2016 – a joint venture between the museum and The Friends of Holy Trinity Rayleigh.

This is the first time that the Friends of both the church and the museum have used their combined expertise to produce more than just a calendar, but a pictorial homage to Rayleigh and its heritage.

The calendar has sold out, but here’s a chance to see some of the photographs.

The museum itself is set to open early in 2016 at 91 High Street Rayleigh, above the new Pizza Express, and will give a permanent home to hundreds of local artefacts, including postcards, maps, books, ephemera and more which have been collated and acquired over time by the history group Rayleigh Through the Looking Glass.

For more details about the new museum, visit www.rayleightownmuseum.co.uk