PSNI investigate listed mill fire

A fire has damaged a listed mill near Strabane.

A fire has damaged a listed mill near Strabane.

The former Herdman's Mill, Sion Mills, was damaged by the blaze in the early hours.

A fire was well established on the fourth and fifth floors of the premises.

It took approximately three hours to bring under control and was attended by fire appliances from Strabane, Derry, Newtownstewart and Castlederg. A total of four pumping appliances and one aerial appliance were in use.

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The cause is unknown and further investigation is to be carried out by the fire service and PSNI.

Last week, Ulster Bank appointed a receiver to the building, ending more than 170 years of ownership for the Herdman family.

It had hoped to redevelop the 60-acre site which dominates the village.

Celia Ferguson, a member of the Herdman family and a trustee of the Sion Mills Building Preservation Trust, said a new part of the mill built in 1907 had been completely destroyed.

“It’s spread right down the roof of the main building which is the iconic building,” she told the BBC.

“But hopefully the rest of that building will be intact.

“It’s burnt some of the stores at the back which were over the mill stream. It remains to be seen what can be done with the bit that’s been badly burnt.

“It looks completely gutted to me.”

PA