Essex County Council was the first local authority to take mills into guardianship to safeguard their future, and it now owns or leases the seven historic mills listed below.

Six of these have been fully restored and are regularly open to the public: these are the windmills at Aythorpe Roding, Finchingfield, Mountnessing, Stock, the water mill at Alderford Street, Sible Hedingham and the tide mill at Thorrington.

Alderford water mill, Sible Hedingham
A medium-sized, 18th-century timber-framed mill on the River Colne in our ownership. It has a breast-shot waterwheel and 4 pairs of millstones, 2 of these formerly steam-driven. The exterior, the water wheel and some of the milling machinery has been restored. It is opened to the public on one Sunday each month during the spring and summer by the Friends of Alderford mill. .

Aythorpe Roding windmill
A large, 18th-century post mill held on a 99-year lease since 1940. It has four patent sails, a fantail on the steps and two pairs of millstones. It is in full working order, but has only a half-set of shutters. Grinding is carried out occasionally, and it is opened once a month on our behalf in the summer by the Aythorpe Roding mill group. It is the biggest post mill surviving in Essex.

Beeleigh steam mill (near Maldon)
A steam-powered mill, dated 1845, and held on a 99-year lease since 1996, from its owners, Essex and Suffolk Water. It has a Wentworth beam engine, an 'elephant' boiler and drive to 5 pairs of millstones (themselves missing). Also included are the base walls of a burnt-down former watermill. Some holding repairs have been carried out, but a great deal more needs to be done. Progress on restoration has been delayed due to the presence of bats, but these have been re-located to a newly built bat roost nearby. This mill is not yet open to the public regularly, though occasional visits by special interest groups may be possible.

Finchingfield windmill
A small post mill, dated 1755, in our ownership. It has 4 spring sails (without shutters), a tailpole and one pair of millstones. It is not workable, because of its location among trees and cottages, but is opened once a month in the summer on our behalf by the Finchingfield Society.

Mountnessing windmill
A picturesque, medium-sized post mill, dated 1807, in our ownership. It has 4 floors, 4 spring sails, a tail pole and 2 pairs of millstones. It is in full working order and makes flour occasionally. The whole mill on its post can still be turned to the wind by pushing on the long tail pole, and this is something which children on school visits can try for themselves. It is opened once a month in the summer on our behalf by the Friends of Mountnessing Mill. There is room for picnics on the playing fields near the mill.

Stock windmill
A medium-sized brick tower mill, c. 1816, in our ownership. It has 4 patent sails, a fantail and 3 pairs of millstones. It is in working order, but only has a half-set of shutters. It is worked occasionally and is opened once a month in the summer on our behalf by the Friends of Stock Windmill. There are 5 floors, which can all be visited, and there is room for picnics in the mil grounds.

Thorrington tide mill
A picturesque, medium-sized, timber-framed, tide-driven watermill, dated 1831, in our ownership. This has a breast-shot waterwheel and 3 pairs of millstones. It is one of only a handful of tide mills still in working order in this country and grinds occasionally. It is opened once a month in the summer by the Brightlingsea Society on our behalf. There is a small, County-owned car park nearby.