A 400-year-old mill has been praised for its historic value.

Alderford Mill, in Sible Hedingham, has been named a ‘hidden gem’ in the district.

The mill, which dates back to at least 1597, caught the eye of district councillor Peter Schwier.

Braintree Council, alongside our reporters, are running a campaign to highlight hidden gems.

Mr Schwier believes the campaign is working well to highlight undervalued, art, culture and history in the area.

The historic site is owned by Essex County Council, and with help from the Friends of Alderford Mill it was restored and has been welcoming visitors since 2008.

Mr Schwier said: “I passed it by and it really did catch my eye, and as always I am very keen to highlight historic points of interest.

“It is a fantastic historical site, that many people do not realise is there, and the more you highlight these places, and their culture and history, the more people will visit and the more success they can have.

“We have a wealth of culture and art across the district, that many people are not aware of.

“The Braintree district is up and coming in many ways, but I think tourism will be more important in the district in the future.

“You look at sites like Alderford Mill, with their historic value, and these are tourist attractions which will pull people into the district.

“There is an amazing array for people who live here, but also in terms of tourism, which I predict will grow even more important.”

The mill, which can be found standing astride the River Colne at the bottom of Alderford Street, is open to the public on the second Sunday of each month from April to October.