大象传媒

The company diaries of Herdman鈥檚 Mill in Sion Mills, County Tyrone, offer a fascinating insight into the effect the war had on the firm. From 1835 until 2004, Herdman鈥檚 spun linen yarn in the village.

The war curtailed its flax supplies because the areas where it was grown often coincided with the territories that were being fought over. Herdman鈥檚 continental agent was taken prisoner in Belgium and taken to Berlin. Some of its flax was stolen at the dockside in Ghent.

The company specialised in fine linen yarn, of good enough quality for table-cloths and other household goods, but as the war progressed, Herdman鈥檚 yarn was used for aeroplane wings. Part of the mill was turned over to the production of Howitzer shell casings and 130 of its employees ended up serving at the front.

Location: Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone: BT82 9HG
Image: A postcard of Herdman's Mill 1907
Image courtesy of Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust