Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust

William Hogg, the author of "Mills and Millers of Ireland" has dubbed Herdmans Mill 'Ireland's Mill Palace', and he knows every mill in Ireland. It is the only remaining large flax-spinning mill in Northern Ireland at present scheduled to be saved for public access and use. It was the only large flax-spinning mill of architectural merit ever built in the North-West of Ireland and is one of very few heritage buildings left there and certainly the largest and most prominent.

Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust was formed in September 1999, ten years after the closure of Herdmans Flax Spinning Mill, specifically to rescue this magnificent Mill, but with a remit covering the whole of the Sion Mills Conservation Area, which is situated in a beautiful rural setting in the very picturesque Mourne valley on the western edge of the Sperrin mountains.

The Trust sees its most important job is to save the Mill buildings and celebrate their history and their social history, which is so important to and unique in this part of the world.
You can read more about the Trust on their website http://www.sionmills.co.uk/smbpt/index.html .

Your Respones

Celia Ferguson - May '07
Just to let anyone who is interested in the history of Sion Mills and plans for its future that Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust have a new very comprehensive and interactive website - www.sionmills.org

Dawn Alexander - May '07
Dear Jamie Nelson
I used to live on the same street as your dad as a child. We use to call him Tucker Nelson. My name is Dawn Alexander, however your dad may remember me as Fitzharris, I had a brother called Brian, I moved away from Ireland when I was a teenager, and now live in the Canary Island, say hello to your dad for me, and hope all goes well with the history

Jean McCloskey - Sep '06
Just browsing over your site I do not wish you any disrespect but I must say this. My kin worked down through the years in the mill as did all of the villagers, they are not here today to tell you of their illnesses for their latter part of their years due to the flax dust they inhaled due to inappropriate ventilation of the times.
This I send In their Memory!

Celia Ferguson - May '06
Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust is shortly constructing a new website as we have lost our server. Apologies for the fact that there is no website at present and please ignore the invitation to visit one which no longer exists.

Jamie Nelson, Australia - April '06
Just been reading your pages, and am very grateful and proud to be a part of your history i am learning history at school in year 7 (i am 12 years old) and my dad is from sion mills he is from a large family of Nelson his name is malcolm(George) my granny Alice still lives in new street. I will be using your pages as part of my history work. Thank you again yours, Jamie.

Nigel Lyttle - November '04
First class, always thought of the mill as just another building until I read this. Good work.