Written in 1883

It is my duty as well as pleasure to notice the many enterprises that place the King's County in a respectable position amongst the few - far too few - energetic centres of Ireland. Ulster has the reputation of being the most prosperous of our four Provinces, and no doubt it is; but we are proud to be in a position to state that, in proportion to its advantages and making fair allowance for several drawbacks, there is no county more progressive than the King's. It is true we have not here the same amount of manufacturing and commercial life that is to be seen in Ulster; but then it must not be forgotten that here the "sinews of war" are not so plentiful. Notwithstanding such an inconvenience however, there is hardly a town within our bounds that cannot boast of some manufactory such as a brewery, a distillery, a teetotaller's drink generator, a flour mill, or even an oil cake mill, while the rural districts are not absolutely short of other industrial communities.

Although partially surrounded by a stretch of country the reverse of the romantic owing to the monotonous nature of the undiversifed scenery and the large admixture of bog, still by some freak of nature BELMONT is situated in a charming belt of land. It may be compared to an oasis in a desert; for while the landscape around possesses few attractions to a casual observer, the immediate locality itself furnishes a sight that might delight the heart of an Artist. Through the verdant valley flows the Great Brosna - the Great being a distinction from the Little Brosna which touches Parsonstown. This 'great' water flow is but a small sluggish stream recalling Goldsmith's line anent, the "lazy Scheldt and wandering Po." But though the Brosna at some points seems somewhat dilatory in its movements there is no river of similar size in these parts keeping so many fine wheels in motion. From the banks the ground rises at a gentle gradient until it forms a natural amphitheatre brilliant in its rich emerald colouring, relieved at intervals with clumps of trees clothed now in the gorgeous foliage of mid Summer.

In the centre of this stand the Mills and residents of the Messrs THOMAS and JAMES PERRY, who however carry on business under the old well-known title of "ROBERT PERRY & CO." The entire structures are large enough to make a neat hamlet of respectable dimensions. In the centre is the Flour-Mill - an enormous pile of masonry, 100 feet long by 40 in width and 40 in height to the Eva. This building is quite modern in its style, having been erected in 1879-80 immediately after the destructive fire. The present firm have been in occupation since 1866 and the previous Proprietor, who also carried on the flour milling in it, was Captain Collins; but in his time it was not one fourth its present size. Within twenty yards stands an Oatmeal Mill nearly as large. This had formerly been a tuck mill worked by the late Mr Thomas L'Estrange. The external aspect of the two, although very fine indeed, is excelled by what is seen inside, as the machinery is all new and of the improved kind, worked by water power and remarkable for scrupulous cleanliness. An idea may be formed of what is done in the Flour Mill on being told that in the season nine pairs of stones and seven rollers are constantly in operation, while four pairs are hardly adequate to meet the demands on the Oatmeal Mill. The Stores attached are capable of containing 20,000 barrels of corn, and outside these stand some of the dwelling-houses of the managing and working staff of the concern others having been recently provided at the village and cross-roads of BELMONT. There are also smaller buildings in which carpenters, blacksmiths and millwrights are kept employed the year round. Fifty men are constantly employed by the Firm, and their Milling department is superintended by Mr George Robins, acting as foreman miller, in which capacity he has long experience and shown exceptional zeal and ability. In fact, such qualifications are an in dispensable condition at BELMONT.

The Mills grind large quantities of Irish as well as American wheat. A great deal of the former is bought on the spot which is of considerable importance to the farmers in the locality. In addition quantities, surprising in extent, are received from Dublin. The flour made here has the reputation of being excellent in point of colour and strength, and is therefore specially suited for baking. The Messrs PERRY have offices in Tullamore, Mullingar, Ballinsloe, and in Moate, and sell much of their deliveries in these and in the neighbouring towns. The principal portion of their traffic is carried on the Grand Canal, and they also keep a number of horses on the road to cart to towns unapproached by the water way. They have a special pier on the Canal at BELMONT for their own trade, and now a new railway station has been erected in proximity for the accommodation of their trade on the Clara and Banagher Railway, which is expected to be opened in September next. In 1879 the Flour mill was burned down, but the Oatmeal Mill escaped. The rebuilding cost over £7,000, but this was nearly all covered by insurance on the buildings and stock. Situated about three miles from Banagher, fifteen from Tullamore and ten from Parsonstown, BELMONT is well worthy of a visit from those who may be so fortunate as to have occasion to travel near that attractive locality - attractive in its natural beauty as well as from the exceptional circumstance that it is the site of not only one of the largest manufactures in the King's County, but unquestionably the most extensive Flour and Corn Mills in all Ireland.