National Mills Weekend 2025

 

Essex has a number of interesting mills – many of which we’ve visited! Some mills are open throughout the year, some regularly and some are much less easy to get into! The National Mills Weekend 2025 is on Saturday 10th May 2025 and Sunday 11th May 2025, and it gives you a chance to get into several mills.

Here is our list of Essex mills, with links to articles we’ve written following visits, links to their pages on the Explore Essex website, and details of when they are (or are not) open for National Mills Weekend.

Alderford Water Mill, Sible Hedingham
their website | Explore Essex website for Alderford Water Mill
Restored, Grade II listed timber building, typical of rural water mills and one of the best preserved in Essex. The water wheel often runs on open days. Read our article, with pictures, following our visit.
Open over National Mills Weekend.

Beeleigh Steam Mill, Maldon
Beeleigh Mill Restoration Group website | Explore Essex website for Beeleigh Steam Mill
One of the most attractive and fascinating mills in East Anglia, Beeleigh Mill includes a rare beam engine and elephant boiler. Read our article, with pictures following our visit.
Open over National Mills Weekend.

Bourne Mill, Colchester
National Trust website for Bourne Mill
Picturesque watermill with working waterwheel. A National Trust property whose opening times have changed a lot in recent years (and not in a good way). Read our article about the mill.
Evidently not open for National Mills Weekend.

Finchingfield Post Mill
Explore Essex website for Finchingfield Post Mill
Grade II-listed Finchingfield Post Mill is the oldest windmill in Essex, built around 1756. It overlooks the picturesque village of Finchingfield. Read our article, with photos, about our visit.
Open for National Mills Weekend.

Mountnessing Post Mill
Explore Essex website for Mountnessing Post Mill
A fascinating insight into a fully restored mill. Dating from 1807, the mill has been fully restored and is now maintained by Essex County Council and Friends of Mountnessing Windmill.
Open for National Mills Weekend.

Stock Tower Mill
Explore Essex website for Stock Tower Mill
Stock Windmill is a Grade II-listed tower mill, built around 1804. Popular and complete with several floors of machinery, at open days mill guides explain how grain was converted into flour. The mill has four patent sails, a boat-shaped cap, a six-bladed fantail.
Not open for National Mills Weekend.

Thorrington Tide Mill
their website
Not currently open, and the owners are seeking to source funding to renovate it. Read our article, with lots of photos, following our visit a few years ago.