HERDMAN'S
MILL
Herdman's Mill
was founded in 1835 and is a large complex of buildings, statutory
listed B+, the most prominent of which was built in 1853 by William
Lynn of Lanyon Lynn and Lanyon, Belfast. This is a very large and
handsome five storey mill built in Italianate style of grey ashlars
stone quarried locally, with yellow brick extensions added in 1884
to 1900 (referred to as the "Main Mill" on the maps). 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 spectacular River Mourne was the reason the Herdmans chose
this site, with its immense water-power which 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. The complicated system of sluices, the
suspension bridge ("the swinging bridge"), the island, the beach
and above all the river itself which is one of the best salmon
rivers in Europe, set amongst lovely mature trees,all combine to
provide a fascinating and beautiful spectacle. This is where Mrs CF
Alexander wrote her famous hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful"
when she lived in Camus-juxta-Mourne Rectory overlooking the weir,
a Georgian house later owned by the Herdman family. The River
Mourne is "the river running by" and "the purple headed mountain is
Meenashesk", a hill to the east of the village.
http://www.sionmills.org/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/tyrone/A750322.shtml
Getting There
Sion Mills is on
the main Strabane – Omagh road. The cache is located along the
Mourneside River Walk. To get to the parking at location there is a
road to your left coming from Strabane or right coming from Omagh
and is opposite the Post Office/Shop.
Multimap
As you approach
the main gates to the factory there is a road to your right, where
parking (N 54 47.096 W 07 28.021 )is available and an information
sign with details of the walk
Follow the
pathway at the end of the car park to a T junction, where you
should turn left to the “Swinging Bridge”
The area is
pathed and is suitable for wheelchairs, buggies etc.
The final cache
location is close by the sluice gates - on rough ground that would
be inaccessible by wheelchair.
PLEASE TAKE
CARE AFTER PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN AS THE RIVER IS PRONE TO
FLOODING.
PLEASE LOOK
AFTER KIDS AROUND THE RACE AND SLUICE GATES AS THE WATER IS DEEP,
FAST MOVING AND NOT ALL SECTIONS ARE FENCED.
The Cache
The co-ordinates
are to a sign with the history of the bridge.
To find the
cache location.
Convert the third letter of the
8th word on the “Why Build a Bridge Here” into a number
based on its position in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, etc). This number
=x
Convert the
third letter of the 2nd word on the “Why Build a Bridge
Here” into a number based on its position in the alphabet (A=1,
B=2, etc). This number =y
N54o 47.0xy
W007o 27.695
The cache is a
1.0L tab-lock box with a geocaching label on the exterior. GPS
reception at the hiding spot isn't great so make sure you have the
clue at hand.
When placed the
cache contained the usual logbook, pencil, some trade items and a
FTF prize. Please take care and rehide the container properly to
avoid accidental discovery.
This area can
get very busy with walkers and anglers at this time of year hoping
for some spring salmon please take care and be very discrete when
retrieving and placing the cache.
PLEASE ONLY TRADE
UP OR EVEN.
TBs MOVE BETWEEN CACHES
AND REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE PERSON THAT RELEASED THEM. I DO NOT
COUNT THEM AS TRADE ITEMS.
IF YOU WISH TO TAKE
SOMETHING FROM THIS CACHE PLEASE DON'T LEAVE A TB IN IT'S PLACE.
THANK YOU.
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