Tandragee’s Former Sinton’s Mill Damaged by Arson

An arson attack has caused damage to a disused flax mill in Tandragee, County Armagh. This structure, known historically as Sinton’s Mill, is situated within the Glebe Hill Manor housing estate. A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) stated that the fire was reported at 20:48 GMT on Tuesday. According to the spokesperson, the fire’s origin “is believed to have been deliberate ignition,” and the situation was brought under control by 00:34 GMT on Wednesday. To manage the blaze, four fire engines, an aerial appliance, and a water tanker were dispatched. Fire crews from Banbridge, Portadown, Lurgan, Warrenpoint, and Belfast were involved in the response. The industrial premises, established in the 1860s, initially functioned as a corn mill. Thomas Sinton, a linen merchant from County Armagh, acquired the property around 1872 and substantially enlarged the complex to bolster his existing flax spinning operations. By 1888, Sinton employed approximately 600 individuals at the Tandragee mill, predominantly women. According to Northern Ireland’s Historical Buildings Database, “The mill ceased large-scale production in 1996 and finally closed in early 2002.” In 2007, a planning application was lodged to renovate and convert Sinton’s Mill into nearly 60 residences. The proposal also encompassed the construction of additional apartment blocks in the vicinity, offering an extra 113 homes and an underground car park. Although permission for this redevelopment was granted in 2009, it did not go forward at that point. Sgt Paul Stewart of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) urged individuals possessing CCTV, dashcam, or any other pertinent footage of the arson incident to get in touch with law enforcement.