Listed for auction at the end of February, South Hill House, on the outskirts of Delvin, Co Westmeath combines Georgian Period architecture along with a colourful history. So colourful in fact, that one of the stories, from one of the house's descendants was celebrated on the silver screen.
Believed to have been constructed around 1810 for the Tighe family who originated from Lincolnshire, England South Hill House is an imposing Georgian three-storey, five-bay house with a basement.
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.
The couple had four daughters and a governess, Sarah Mader (nee Lawrence) from Durham in England was employed to look after their children. Thomas Tighe Chapman subsequently eloped with the governess to north Wales, where he adopted her surname Lawrence to avoid scandal.
The couple had five sons, the second of which, Thomas Edward (TE ) became well-known for his exploits in the Middle East during World War I. Dubbed, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ for his role in the Arab revolt in that time, he was later subject to a 1962 film of the same name.
The house itself was designed by prominent architect William Farrell, while the interior plasterwork may be attributed to the Danish artist Thorvaldsen.
The property still retains all the charm and dignity of the period and the gracious beautifully proportioned accommodation is enhanced by a number of particularly fine features.
Acquired by the Sisters of Charity in 1952, they developed South Hill into a special school known as St Mary’s South Hill.
Occupying a site area of 139ac that is predominantly in use as agricultural land, there are eight different buildings which also form part of the estate. These incorporate a mixture of residential, medical, education and leisure uses. Both South Hill House and the farmyard are protected structures.
The lands are typical of the area, gently and undulating. They are laid out in a number of convenient divisions, all of which are under old pasture and are of excellent fattening quality. The lands benefit from extensive frontage to the N51. All the accommodation and 68ac along with the farmyard are offered in Lot 1 and are guided in the region of €900,000 to €1m.
There are 69ac on offer in Lot 2 and this block of ground which is laid out in three divisions also come with a slatted shed and concrete yard on it. This lot is guided at €700,000.
Lot 3 contains 2ac and is opposite the main entrance gates to Lot 1. Guided at €30,000, it is astride the N51 Road while the entire is listed as Lot 4.
Trim-based REA TE Potterton are joint agents for this sale along with Cushman & Wakefield.
Auctioneer, Elliott Potterton said:
“This is a very unique property with not many like it coming to the market, it’s steep in history. The main residence was built in 1810 and is absolutely beautiful.
An important historic estate occupying a prime location on the Westmeath/Meath border, it has been in use up until the middle of 2025. Extremely well-maintained in general, there’s over 63,000sq feet of accommodation and both the buildings and the land are offered with vacant possession. The land is in good heart and was leased to the same tenant for a number of years and well-minded.”
The auction takes place at 3pm on Friday 27 February in the Property Exchange, Trim, Co. Meath and online on the LSL Auctions platform.
Anyone wishing to participate in the auction is asked to register with the auctioneers before 23 February.