By Conor Sharkey
SION House could be seized from the current owner if it continues to fall into dilapidation, a leading building preservation group revealed this week.
HEARTH, the Building Trust expected to head the ambitious regeneration of the Sion Mills Stable Block met with Strabane Council on Tuesday, their first meeting since the historic building partially collapsed last year.
HEARTH chief Marcus Patton revealed that the Stable Block is now officially government property, following the completion of vesting procedures against John Withy.
And Mr Patton said that he remains hopeful that further down the line, similar government powers could be used to acquire nearby Sion House from Mr Withy.
Due to its historical significance, Sion House remained a government protected building for several decades. However following the purchasing of the house by John Withy, it was de-listed. Recently, the Department of the Environment was forced to re-list it following concerns over natural dilapidation and physical restructuring of the building by the current owner. This re-listing could be vital in saving the building from almost certain ruin, Mr Patton said.
"Getting Sion House re-listed was a very important step because it means that it's recognised as being historically important again. The house is the core of Sion Mills and if it is lost, you basically lose a piece of Sion.
"The house itself is like something out of a fairytale and fairytales always have a happy ending. We haven't got there yet, but we are hopeful," he said.
Calling for Council support on any future plans regarding the Sion House/Stables project, Mr Patton said his organisation envisaged incorporating public toilets, a small museum, caretaker's quarters, a cafe and visitor's shop into the regeneration project.
Asked if it would not be easier to simply demolish the entire Stable block and start again, the HEARTH chief said that was never an option for his team.
"It may be difficult to restore but what you with it in its current form is history and character. It's very derelict but there is still a lot of the building surviving that you just wouldn't pick up if you started from scratch."
He added: "I think we are talking in and around the one million pound mark, but that is only a round figure at the moment.
"We have been talking to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the past five years about this project and they are supportive in principal.
"It isn't going to be easy to find funding but I do believe the government will be sympathetic, particularly because this is the first time a building has been acquired in this manner," Mr Patton said.
