History
Sion Mills was laid out as a model linen village by the Herdman brothers, James, John and George. In 1835 they converted an old flour mill on the River Mourne into a flax spinning mill, and erected a bigger mill behind it in the 1850s
The River Mourne was the reason that Herdman's Mill was built in Sion Mills, County Tyrone. It was founded in 1835 and is a large complex of now listed buildings, the most prominent of which was built in 1853 by William Henry Lynn of Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon, Belfast. This is a very large and handsome five-storey mill built in Italianate style of greyashlar stone quarried locally, with yellow brick extensions added in 1884 to 1900. There had been a series of corn mills on the site, (the earliest recorded in 1640), with the latest one rebuilt in 1828 which the three Herdman brothers from Belfast, and their partners, the Mulhollands, purchased from the Marquis of Abercorn, and this became part of the 1835 tow mill next to the river, now the three-storey "Old Mill". The immense water-power of the River Mourne provided 1000 water horsepower. The water-power and its history are still very much a feature of the Mill with the modern turbines, the newly developed river walks and picnic areas overlooking the huge weir and the 35 ft wide mill lade which flows on to run between the two main buildings of the Mill. There is also a complicated system of sluices and a suspension bridge ("the swinging bridge”).
Explore
Another cracking mill complex in NI, long derelict and on a whole pretty empty, but epic non the less. Really enjoyed this one too, loads to look at and again another super chill explore. The weather was a bit gash, and navigating the sluice gates and shimmying over to the mill next to the river was a bit slippery in places but it gave me a bit of an extra buzz.
Pics
I’ll start with a couple of old pics
Unfortunately she’s not looking as good these days. Derelict and neglected for many years, it’s also suffered a large at the front of the complex.
Current:
You can see on this drone shot where there has been some demo work which has opened up the canal through the centre of the site.
The old Hydro turbine hall
Where the roof has now finally let go
Moving onto the main mill through the boiler house
Fire damage
Glazed brick and old switches? Oooft lol
Some line shafting remained on the ground floor
Sion Mills was laid out as a model linen village by the Herdman brothers, James, John and George. In 1835 they converted an old flour mill on the River Mourne into a flax spinning mill, and erected a bigger mill behind it in the 1850s
The River Mourne was the reason that Herdman's Mill was built in Sion Mills, County Tyrone. It was founded in 1835 and is a large complex of now listed buildings, the most prominent of which was built in 1853 by William Henry Lynn of Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon, Belfast. This is a very large and handsome five-storey mill built in Italianate style of greyashlar stone quarried locally, with yellow brick extensions added in 1884 to 1900. There had been a series of corn mills on the site, (the earliest recorded in 1640), with the latest one rebuilt in 1828 which the three Herdman brothers from Belfast, and their partners, the Mulhollands, purchased from the Marquis of Abercorn, and this became part of the 1835 tow mill next to the river, now the three-storey "Old Mill". The immense water-power of the River Mourne provided 1000 water horsepower. The water-power and its history are still very much a feature of the Mill with the modern turbines, the newly developed river walks and picnic areas overlooking the huge weir and the 35 ft wide mill lade which flows on to run between the two main buildings of the Mill. There is also a complicated system of sluices and a suspension bridge ("the swinging bridge”).
Explore
Another cracking mill complex in NI, long derelict and on a whole pretty empty, but epic non the less. Really enjoyed this one too, loads to look at and again another super chill explore. The weather was a bit gash, and navigating the sluice gates and shimmying over to the mill next to the river was a bit slippery in places but it gave me a bit of an extra buzz.
Pics
I’ll start with a couple of old pics
Unfortunately she’s not looking as good these days. Derelict and neglected for many years, it’s also suffered a large at the front of the complex.
Current:
You can see on this drone shot where there has been some demo work which has opened up the canal through the centre of the site.
The old Hydro turbine hall
Where the roof has now finally let go
Moving onto the main mill through the boiler house
Fire damage
Glazed brick and old switches? Oooft lol
Some line shafting remained on the ground floor