Local historians have written about Terling for some time, two publications being the "Terling Fever of 1867" and "Terling in 1840 (or thereabouts)". More detail can be found on link to http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/essext03a.html 

Most well documented past resident, indeed owner of most of the area, was the 3rd Baron Lord Rayleigh, Nobel Prize Winner for Physics. Details can be found on http://www.britannica.com/nobel/micro/495_84.html

The current Lord Rayleigh still has his family home at Terling Place, in the centre of the village, and plays an active part in village life. He farms 6500 acres around the village through Lord Rayleigh Farms.