Mill - corn

The National Monuments Service's description

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