Bellmount Mills (Corn)

Flour mill to SW of Crookstown. According to local tradition, Herricks originally built mill (no longer survives) 1km to SW, near weir shown on 1842 OS 6-inch map; due to insufficient head of water, mills moved to present location, shown on 1842 OS 6-inch map as 'Bellmount Mills'. Howards leased mill from Herricks in 1848; mill then powered by overshot water wheel (diam 26ft; L 7ft) (Kerins et al. 1985, 11). Rectangular mill (long axis E-W), 6-storey with attic, gable-ended; W gable plus addition to N weatherslated. Date stone of 1810 recently uncovered on lintel over door. Wheel pit along W gable with mill pond to W; in early 20th century a Gilbert, Gilkes and Gordon turbine (52HP) installed, powering machinery within mill via pulley and belt system. National Gas and Diesel engine installed in 1926 to supplement power; electricity provided full power after 1958; turbine and engine removed. Grain drying kiln on W end of S wall used as carpenter's work shop in early part of 20th century; another addition on W end of N wall. Later addition onto E end of S wall which now houses two pairs of French burr millstones, set on iron table, installed in 1920s; now electrically driven with modern spindles underneath. Numerous modern mill buildings/silos along N side. Pair of semi-detached early 19th-century 2-storey residential mill houses to N still occupied. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009