Sion Stables is a visitor attraction located in the historic linen village of Sion Mills on the A5 between the Walled City of Derry and the Ulster American Folk Park. Formerly the stable block attached to the nearby Sion House, Sion Stables has won awards for the way in which this listed building has been conserved and brought to life again. Sion Stables is an initiative of Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust in association with Hearth.


Musuem
Sion Stables Museum is housed within the period horse stalls of the former stable block. The exhibits tell the story of the historic linen village and bring alive the stories of the mill-owners, the mill-workers and Irish Linen manufacture.

Herdmans Flax-Spinning Mill was built in 1835 by the brothers James, John & George Herdman. Sion Mills was chosen as a rural idyll with available labour and waterpower. The vision was to create a moral, temperate, educated, non-sectarian community in the northwest of Ireland, which was already a prolific flax-growing region. They built a model village with school, churches, and recreational facilities.

This is a self-guided facility with an opportunity to view the exhibits at your own pace. Recommended time is approximately 45 minutes. There is no admission charge but a donation is welcome.



Opening times are:

• Tuesday to Saturday 10.00-20.30
• Sunday 12.00-20.30
• Closed Monday (except for pre-booked guided tours)

Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust provides guided tours and lectures for groups with a special interest in the industrial history and architecture of the historic linen village of Sion Mills. These need to be pre-booked. The recommended donation, with introductory talk in Sion Stables, is £150 per group tour. Before you make a booking, sample our Masters Of Linen Film.

Donations from museum visits and booked tours/talks support the work of Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust.



Heritage Education Centre
The Heritage Education Centre is a facility, purpose-built for seminars or functions, annexed to the original stable block and built in a similar style. The centre is self-contained with separate disabled and unisex toilets and a small kitchenette. With underfloor heating, a projector and large screen the room can seat 55 people conference style and 30 people seminar style.

A concertina glass door, which looks out on the courtyard, can be opened in good weather. There are barn-style doors which can be pulled across if privacy is required. The room has an airy feel with its high ceiling and exposed oak beams similar to the restaurant. This is a fully-catered venue (except for bookings for Mondays). For morning or afternoon bookings, tea, coffee and scones or biscuits are provided in the centre. For all-day bookings lunch is provided in the restaurant, with a menu tailored to meet your needs.

Prices are:

• Morning or afternoon tea and coffee with either freshly made scones or biscuits £3.25 per person
• Lunch in Restaurant 1861 with a main course from a tailored menu £7.70 per person
• Room hire is free for groups over 30; £25 for groups between 20-30 and £50 for groups under 20.

All prices are inclusive of VAT.

Contact the Coordinator on Tel: 028 8165 9772 or Mob: 078 9453 4553 or email info@sionstables.com