Windmills do turn for the public

Mountnessing windmill will open its doors on 13 May

Mills across Essex are to open their doors to allow visitors a chance to see the workings of the historic buildings.

The annual National Mills Weekend will see windmills and watermills across the UK open on 12 and 13 May.

Only a handful of the 280 mills that were in use in Essex in the 19th century remain, with volunteers and local groups maintaining many.

Essex County Council is opening five mills, including the watermill in Sible Hedingham which is under restoration.

The council's mills include windmills at Stock, Mountnessing, Finchingfield and Aythorpe Roding, a restored tide mill at Thorrington and a steam mill at Beeleigh near Maldon.

Privately-owned windmills at Ashdon, Bocking, Coggershall and Stansted Mountfitchet are also expected to welcome visitors.

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), which has worked with the National Trust, has organised the event.

Simon Hudson, of SPAB, said: "It is satisfying to know that even in our computerized age, technology that provided bread for our ancestors is still in use today."