"Ruffles" 50 Hockley Road

To the rear of this property, in which Benjamin Ruffles lived, was Tower Mill (1786-1865) one of five in Rayleigh, which was sometimes called "Picketts".

Ruffles worked for Nathanial Audley, the owner; married his daughter Elizabeth and inherited the business on his father-in-law's death in 1829.

He purchased Tower Mill in 1840, which still stands in Bellingham Lane.

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