Hymn writer's childhood home damaged in arson attack

Firefighters were not able to save the roof of Milltown House

The childhood home of one of the Victorian era's most famous hymn writers has been badly damaged in an arson attack.

Cecil Frances Alexander was born in Dublin and moved to Milltown House, in Strabane, County Tyrone in 1833.

Her works include All Things Bright and Beautiful and Once in Royal David's City.

The fire at the derelict building happened on Thursday night and police said they are treating it as deliberate.

Sinn Féin councillor Brian Harte at the scene of the fire

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it deployed eight appliances to the incident from Strabane, Londonderry, Castlederg and Newtownstewart.

It was dealt with by 04:40 BST on Friday.

Sinn Féin councillor Brian Harte said the damage to the building's roof was extensive.

"The roof has gone, it is beyond repair," he said.

"This is absolutely devastating, in particular because of the amount of work that been going on in the background over the last year, two years to regenerate the site."

Cecil Frances Alexander wrote a number of the world's most noted hymns

'Cannot lose heritage'

Milltown House is located on a 22-acre site, formerly home to Strabane Grammar School, on the Liskey Road and is owned by the Education Authority (EA).

The site is for sale and Strabane Rugby Club had hoped to make it their new home, with Milltown House its clubhouse.

The club's vice chairman Colin Spence told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme discussions about acquiring the site had been ongoing for a number of years.

He said the fire was heart-rending.

"We cannot lose our heritage and our plan was to being that heritage back through sport and a full community use," he said.

"That needs to be protected at all costs."

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan says the arson is a setback for the redevelopment plans for Milltown House

The SDLP MLA, Daniel McCrossan, told BBC Radio Foyle the arson had happened just hours after politicians met council officials to discuss plans for the redevelopment of the site.

"Significant progress was made," he said.

"In fact, the end line was very near. Unfortunately, at the 11th hour, someone has come on to the site and set fire to a very important piece of Strabane's history."

Pat McGuigan, from Strabane history society, said people were in shock.

He visited the site on Friday morning and said: "We're looking here at the remnants of what was once a great, great building.

"Now, it's just a mess, just a mess, terrible."

He said, despite the arson, people in Strabane were determined to restore the childhood home of one of their most famous adopted daughters to its former glory.

The EA has been contacted by the BBC.