Sion Stables

13/11/2024

Could you imagine Sion Mills without the sluice gates and weir?

We've very grateful to previous Mill employees and the community capturing Sion Mills' development over the years - here photographs from our archive of replacement of the sluice gates in the early 1990's.

06/11/2024

As we approach Remembrance Day we've been reflecting on the life and hugely significant influence Ambrose Ricardo had on Sion Mills.

Brigadier General Ambrose St Quintin Ricardo was a natural leader who excelled in military and civilian affairs alike. His enthusiasm and organisation flair helped transform the fortunes of scouting in NI - a contribution that culminated in his appointment as Chief Scout.

He was highly active in the improvement of the social life in Sion Mills. He touched the hearts of mill employees, commanding their respect and admiration. His loss in 1923 was deeply felt by the village community.

Acknowledging his involvement in founding the Londonderry feis, the Ambrose Ricardo Memorial Medallion was awarded to the best 'boy scout, girl guide, wolf cub, or brownie choir' at the Londonderry Feis of 1947.

Ensuring that his legacy would not be forgotten, General Ricardo's final resting place is one of the most prominent in the village in front of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

30/10/2024

🗓 SAVE THE DATE

Join us on Thursday 21st November 2024 to hear Bernadette Walsh, Archivist from Derry City & Strabane District Council as she joins us at the HEC Building in the next in our series or celebrating our Heritage.

Starting at 7.30pm, join us for this free event exploring the significant of The Herman Archive.

📣Spread the word - everyone is welcome

23/10/2024

Do any of your family remember the railway line in Sion?

With increasing interest in the rail network here in the west - we had to dig out this photo of Sion Mills railway station from our archives.

In 1845, the Derry to Enniskillen railway line was sanctioned and in 1852 it reached Newtownstewart. The original plan was for it to be built on the other side of the river from the Mill, but the Herdmans made the Railway Company an offer they couldn’t refuse in order to have it come past the Mill. They gave the Company some of the Sion House land on which to build it, and there was a siding built into the Mill. Until this time all the yarn had to travel by cart over the mountains to Belfast taking 3 days journey, so of course the railway was a godsend.

Sadly, the then Great Northern Railway, linking Sion with Derry, Dublin and Belfast, closed in 1965.

19/10/2024

It was exactly this day 🗓 19 October 1987, 37 years ago that the footbridge in Sion Mills collapsed. The timing was particularly significant as the international stock market collapsed on the same day on what became known as Black Monday... This newer bridge stood for over half a century before being carried away by floodwater - in a similar fate to its predecessor back in 1929.

The third and final build in 1987 saw the much loved Swinging Bridge come to life!

17/10/2024

Wishing The Mill Restaurant every success as it prepares to open at Sion Stables later tonight.

We very much hope the Sion Mills community and further afield support the restaurant in the coming weeks and months.

For booking enquiries please contact The Mill directly t: 028 81659772

We’re Nearly Ready❤️

16/10/2024

Don't forget to join us tomorrow evening, Thursday 17th October at 7.30pm in the HEC building at Sion Stables for the first in our autumn series of talks. This month, we will be warmly welcoming Mr. Sebastian Graham of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society who will be presenting on the history of Sion Mills and district.

Everyone is welcome to attend this FREE community event with light refreshments. PLUS the Sion Mills Heritage Museum will be open for visitors who wish to gain a deeper appreciation of the history of Sion Mills and the impact of the flax spinning mill.

Please help spread the word and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow night.

09/10/2024

Way back before the existing Recreation Club was established, the old Sion Mills Recreation Hall was at the centre of village life.

From it's grand opening back over 142 years ago this month in October 1882, the hall was an impressive venue and brought years of entertainment to villagers from plays to the Spinners' Ball and birthdays. Firmly on the map for many years, sadly the original Recreation Hall is no longer in existence but we are grateful to archive photos to know what once was.

04/10/2024

We are delighted to re-commence our series of Celebrating our Culture series of talks this autumn - starting with welcoming Sebastian Graham of Ulster Architectural Heritage Society for a special presentation at the Heritage Education Centre, The Stables, Sion Mills on Thursday 17th October at 7.30 pm. Sebastian has completed a detailed study of the economic and social significance of mills down through the years.

When the Herdman brothers established a flax spinning mill on the river Mourne in 1835 they also had a socially enlightened vision of creating a model village – Sion Mills. They started quite literally with a green-field site, but within a few years of the mill becoming a going concern, reputable architects and building firms were employed to develop the infrastructure of the village.

A high priority was given to the er****on of buildings and facilities designed to cater for the social and recreational needs of the population of this new village. The Herdman vision was successfully implemented and a measure of its effectiveness is the not infrequent referencing of Sion Mills as an example of good practice in community building.

Join us for this free, enlightening talk - light refreshments will be served and will be open for any visitors who wish to gain a deeper appreciation of the history of Sion Mills and the impact of the flax spinning mill.

📣 Spread the word

18/09/2024

We're delighted to share details of our upcoming events in the 2024-25 series of Celebrating our Heritage at the Sion Stables - kindly supported by Derry City & Strabane District Council

This series of talks and events explores our heritage. Not just our historic buildings but also the use made of building to promote prosperity and foster a wholesome and flourishing social fabric in our community.

🗓 All free to attend, book the dates in your diary now - more details to follow in the lead up to each. Please spread the word and we look forward to welcoming you to an event soon!

15/09/2024

Don't forget 🔔 the Museum and Heritage Education Centre at Sion Stables is open again today from 2-5pm.

Pop along to take a look around the museum and find out more about the historic buildings in our village and how they have been used over the decades.

You'll be able to see old photographs of the mill, workers and community across the decades - as well as artefacts from mill and the Herdman family.

Free of charge and everyone welcome!

14/09/2024

Don't forget to join us today for our Heritage Open Day 🎉

Pop down to the Stables today between 10am-5pm to take a look around the Museum and Heritage Education Centre.

📍Meet at the Stables at 11am or 2pm today only for a guided walk of the Village Heritage Trail.

Free of charge and everyone is welcome - join us to find out more about Sion Mills and to celebrate our heritage.

12/09/2024

➡️Have you visited the Museum at the Stables before?
⛪️Would you like visit historical buildings in our village & find out more about them?

This weekend (Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th) we are inviting you to visit the Museum and Heritage Education Centre and take part in the village heritage trails.

🗓Pop along to the Stables on Saturday between 10am-5pm or Sunday between 2-5pm.

🚶🏼‍♀️The Village Heritage Trails will be running on Saturday ONLY at 11am and 2pm.

Free of charge and everyone is welcome - join us to find out more about Sion Mills and to celebrate our heritage.

Spread the word 📢 Joe Mills Sion Mills Integrated Primary School Sion Mills Presbyterian Church Sion Mills Community Association

11/09/2024

It's with great sadness that we say farewell to Sika By Niall as Niall and his team move on to a bigger premises in Omagh at The Copper Tap Omagh and get ready to open TONIGHT!

Niall brought a new level of elegant dining to Sion Mills and very much became part of the community. We're very grateful to the people of Sion Mills (and wider) for welcoming and supporting him during his time at the Stables.

We hope you'll join us to wish the entire Sika team every success in Omagh. For all enquiries about dining at the new Sika, please following Sika By Niall or contact 02881440353.

In the meantime, we look forward to sharing more details about the new Stables new tenant very soon!

30/05/2024

"Sion Mills represents an impressive, if not unparalleled concentration of culture, heritage and history, in a relatively small geographical area, and the village stands as a living and object lesson in community relations" - Jonathan Hamill

Preserving our heritage continues to be the priority of the Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust.

28/05/2024

As our series of talk exploring our heritage come to a close, we would like to extend our thanks to all of the guest speakers who so generously shared their insight and knowledge with us: George Irwin, Ruth Buchanan + Frank Galligan, Robin McCallan, Maureen Boyle, Andy Patton, Sebastian Graham, Oonagh McNelis and Dr Kieran Kennedy.

And of course, thank you to all of the community who have attended and supported these events.

23/05/2024

For any cricket fans - straight from our archives, take a look at the 1947 cricket report in full pictured here 🏏

20/05/2024

It is with great sadness and reflection that we commemorate this day - 20 May 2004 marked the end of an era and also the end of an industry as the Mill closed. After several years of running Sion Mills at a loss, Herdmans announced the plans to cease spinning in February 2004. Whilst this devastating turn of events shocked and affected so many in our community, it is promising to see our model village continue to develop 20 years later, with the same unfaltering community spirit.