Many farms have old courtyards and stone-walled sheds with fine slate roofs which farmers could convert to living accommodation or another modern use – but they never do. Perhaps they don’t have the funding or the time, perhaps they just like the farm the way it is.

Unfortunately, these old buildings can then slowly deteriorate. But here’s a farm where a fine old courtyard has been converted and put to practical use, with plenty of style.

It’s Harmony Farm, in Co Westmeath. This holding has 35ac in a mix of pasture and forestry, a large three-sided courtyard dating from the 1800s, a more modern farmyard as well as a charming gate lodge.

The farm is located at Corbetstown, near Killucan, on the L1501 local road. It is now for sale with joint agents James L. Murtagh and Sherry FitzGerald Davitt & Davitt and is going for auction. Under new ownership, this property can now be put to many different uses.

The basics

The 35ac is in one block and has road frontage.

Starting at the basics, it’s a good location, 20km from Mullingar, 12km from Kinnegad and the M4 motorway, 45 minutes drive from Dublin’s M50.

The 35ac is in one block and has nearly 200m frontage onto a local road. There are two entrances into the property. The land breaks down as 12.5ac of pasture and 22ac of forestry. The pasture is gently sloping, clean ground with no waste, set up in paddocks. The forestry is 20 years old and a mix of broadleaf species including Ash.

However, it’s the courtyard and nearby farmyard which is standout. They are close together, about 250m back from the road and therefore, in the centre of the holding.

The three sides of the courtyard enclose just over half an acre. Over half of the old building has now been converted to modern use.

Approaching the yard, the first section is now a stylish family home. It is a spacious 2,770 sq ft over two floors. It includes a spectacular, two-storey annex with very large windows, glass doors and a veranda facing to the southeast.

The family home is open plan.

The sitting room area.

A bedroom.

Kitchen.

Inside, the rooms are open plan, large and bright. Downstairs, there are three bedrooms and a sitting room. Upstairs, there is a dining room, kitchen, living room, office and a fourth bedroom.

Next there are the converted apartment units – six in total. Three are one bedroomed, the others are two bedroomed.

Courtyard

The old courtyard dates back to the 1800s and sits on just over half an acre.

Further along the courtyard there are loose boxes and stables. Here, and in the nearby farmyard, there are further equestrian facilities including a horse walker, an outdoor sand arena and an indoor sand arena with a viewing areas for spectators and a judge’s rostrum.

This gate lodge is 1,240 sq ft in area, has two bedrooms and is in good condition. It sits on its own 0.5ac site.

The two bedroom gate lodge is in good condition.

The auction takes place in The Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar on Friday, 22 November at 3.30pm. It also runs on the LSL platform.

The guide price for the entire is in excess of €850,000.

The gate lodge will be offered as a separate lot with a guide price of €180,000 to €200,000.