Cecil Frances Alexander: Rugby club interested in hymn writer's home

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

A rugby club is potentially interested in the home of one of the Victorian era's most famous hymn writers.

Cecil Frances Alexander's work includes All Things Bright and Beautiful and Once in Royal David's City. She was born in Dublin and moved to Milltown House, in Strabane, in 1833.

The 22-acre site on the Liskey Road, which includes Milltown House, is owned by the Education Authority (EA).

It is for sale and Strabane Rugby Club views it as a possible home.

Milltown House and the land has been for sale for years but Derry and Strabane District Council has said it will write to the EA "to express concern" over plans to put it on the open market.

The authority confirmed to BBC News NI that the council had been in contact regarding the sale, adding that "any decisions on the future use of the site would be a matter for the successful buyer".

A spokesperson for the council told BBC News NI that a proposal to write to the EA was unanimously agreed at a council meeting.

The intention of the letter is to "express concern over their plans to put the Liskey Road site on the open market and seek an urgent meeting on this issue".

"Members also agreed for council officers to work with organisations and other partners to try to keep this site for the benefit of the local community in Strabane," the spokesperson added.

'Nowhere to call home'

Robert Dillon, who is the former president of Strabane Rugby Club, told BBC Radio Foyle the club was in desperate need of a new ground and Milltown House would be a perfect location.

The club plays in Bradley Way, but he said it had been told that in two year's time it would have "nowhere to call home" as that site was being sold.

He said the club had previously expressed interest in the Milltown House site with other community groups and is asking to be given "a fair chance" to buy the land.

Mr Dillon said the club would only need a small portion of the 22-acre site for pitches and club house to ensure the future of the club and hopes the rest of the site could also benefit the wider community.

He said the club had already raised money through various fundraisers, but he fears it may lose out by not being able to compete financially with potential developers interested in the land.

The hymn writer was married to Church of Ireland bishop and peer William Alexander

Cecil Frances (Humphreys) Alexander and her sister Anne were very involved in local church activities in Strabane, including visits to local families.

They persuaded their father to allow them the use of a small building in the grounds of their home to teach four or five deaf children.

The small home school grew into a large-scale institution on the Derry Road in Strabane which catered to children with hearing and speech loss.

Meanwhile, Frances and her new husband, Church of Ireland minister William Alexander, settled happily into married life in Strabane, raising two of their three children in the town.

Ulster Unionist Party councillor Derek Hussey said: "Work has been done with local sports clubs and conservation groups to put together a community project for the Education Authority.

"It would be disgraceful if the selling of this site went ahead and locals weren't listened to.

"We have to engage with the Education Authority and encourage a proper and good community use of this facility."

The site on the Liskey Road in Strabane as it is today

The EA said the site was being taken to the open market after a trawl of the internal market led to no expressions of interest.

"It is expected that the site will be marketed later in the 2023-24 financial year," the spokesperson added.

"We can confirm that Derry City and Strabane District Council has been in contact with the Education Authority regarding the site.

Any decisions on the future use of the site would be a matter for the successful buyer."