Farm with links to Lawrence of Arabia comes to market
An historic estate occupying a prime location on the Westmeath, Meath border goes up for auction at the end of the month. South Hill House and farm, 2km from Delvin (formerly St Mary’s School), includes what the selling agents describe as a magnificent country house (11,000 sq ft), extensive additional accommodation (55,000 sq ft) a farmyard, cottage, grounds and a superb block of farmland.
The property occupies a site area of approximately 56 hectares (139 acres) predominantly in use as agricultural land. The eight buildings incorporate a mixture of residential, medical, education and leisure uses. The buildings are all offered with vacant possession. South Hill House and farmyard are protected structures (NBHS REG 15401401/402).
South Hill House is an imposing Georgian three-storey over basement five-bay house designed by architect William Farrell. The interior plasterwork may be attributed to the Danish artist Thorvaldsen. A Doric porch flanked by three-bay, single-storey wings on either side of Ashlar limestone construction was later added to enhance the façade.
Beautifully proportioned accommodation is enhanced by a number of particularly fine feature, including: ornate richly moulded gilt plasterwork to the principal rooms, beautiful chimney pieces in the main reception rooms, sash windows having classic six over six panes with slim glazing bars and shutters, three-storey staircase having featured grand bow windows.
Historical note
South Hill House was constructed about 1810 for the Tighe family from Lincolnshire, England. The Chapmans of nearby Killua Castle were a prominent Anglo Irish landowning family who intermarried with the Tighe family. Thomas Robert Tighe Chapman was born in 1846 and lived at South Hill House with his wife Edith Boyd-Rochford, with whom he had four daughters.
A governess Sarah Mader (known as Lawrence) from Durham in England was employed to look after their children. Thomas Tighe Chapman eloped with the governess to north Wales, where Thomas Edward (TE) Lawrence was born in 1888.
Adopting the name Lawrence to avoid any scandal, the couple never married and moved to Scotland, Normandy, and eventually settled in Oxford. TE Lawrence became known as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ for his role in the Arab revolt during World War I. In 1962, film maker David Lean made ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ based on the life of TE Lawrence.
The Sisters of Charity acquired South Hill in 1952 and developed it into a special school, known as St Mary’s South Hill. South Hill House is a Protected Structure and exempt from a BER rating.
Viewing of the residence and out offices is by appointment with joint selling agents: REA TE Potterton (Elliott Potterton, 083 856 8526, elliott@reatepotterton.ie) and Cushman Wakefield (Ryan Murphy, 087 441 9085, ryan.c.murphy@cushwake.com. Lands can be inspected at any reasonable hour.
The sale is on Friday February 27 at 3pm at the Property Exchange, Trim, and LSL online auctions (registration by February by 23).
Lot 1 – South Hill House and out offices with farmyard on c.68 acres (28 hectares). the property comprises folio WH13260 and is outlined in white on the map. South Hill House is approached over a tarmacadam drive flanked on both sides by lawned areas incorporating mature trees and shrubs, leading to a large forecourt parking and turning area in front of the house.
Outside is an attractive court yard with a range of stone out offices with slate roofs, farmyard with separate access to the N51 Athboy, Delvin road.
The gently undulating lands are laid out in a number of convenient divisions all under old pasture and are of excellent grazing/ fattening quality. The lands benefit from extensive frontage to the N51.
Lot 2 – an excellent block of agricultural land extending to 69 acres (27.8) hectares in folio WH15837 and laid out in three divisions of productive land benefiting from extensive road frontage.
Lot 3 – a small parcel of land extending to about two acres (0.8 hectares), fronting the Athboy, Delvin road and opposite the main entrance gates to Lot 1.
Lot 4 – the entire South Hill House on c.139 acres (56 hectares).