Home | Heritage at Risk in Northern Ireland

Andrew McClelland 06/07/2004 00:00:00

HB Ref No:
HB10/07/004

Address
Herdmans' Mill Mill Avenue Sion Mills Liggartown Strabane Co Tyrone BT82 9HE

Townland:
Liggartown

Status:
Currently at Risk

Listing Grade:
B+

HARNI Number:
HARNI 10/07/002

Conservation Area:
No

Condition:
Ruinous Grade 1

Industrial Archeology:
Yes

Occupancy:
Vacant

Vernacular:
No

Degree of Risk:
Critical

Thatched:
No

Availability:
Unknown

Monument:
No

Current Building Use:
Mill

Derelict:
No

Description

An immense industrial complex, whose importance to the nearby town of Sion Mills cannot be understated. Developed by the Herdman family in the early part of the19th century, the main feature of the complex is a four-storey, sixteen-bay spinning mill with a six-storey tower at one end. This was designed in an instantly-recognisable Italianate fashion by W. H. Lynn in 1853. A substantial number of other ancillary structures and spaces complete the site, including the famous cricket pitch where Ireland defeated the West Indies in 1969. However, the historic mill buildings are no longer in use, having been superseded in the 1980s by a modern complex – although this too has recently ceased production. As a result they have become increasingly vulnerable to vandals and have decayed somewhat, although like most large mill buildings of that age they are of an extremely resilient construction. Encouragingly, a major regeneration scheme has been proposed by the Sion Mills Building Preservation Trust that necessitates not only a massive amount of capital expenditure but also much creative thinking and vision. Building was damaged by fire in July 2011 which has been detrimental to the condition of the mill structure leaving it open to the elements. The turbine house has seen significant damage with part of the structure having collapse and in critical need of attention. When reviewed in 2024 there have been few changes to the structures fortunes and it continues to decline, however this is such an important structure in the region that all efforts should be made for its preservation. Refs: Rowan, A., North West Ulster, Penguin, 1979, pp. 487-488