Grand homes on two fine sporting estates

One of the largest agricultural estates in the midlands, the Bracklyn Estate at Delvin in Co Westmeath, is on the market through McCabe Crisp & Partners, priced at £4.5 million. The large two-storey over basement Victorian house stands on 1,080 acres of farm land and woodland with potential for an equestrian centre or stud farm. The seven-bedroom property, which has an additional three houses and four apartments, was once the seat of the Nugent family whose Norman ancestors obtained the lands of Bracklyn in the 12th century.

Delvin is a pretty village in stud farm country, 48 miles from Dublin and an hour's drive from the airport. The Italian owners have completely refurbished the house, which is approached through a Victorian gothic archway and a gravelled driveway. There are panoramic views from the front windows over the soft Westmeath countryside. Bracklyn is equipped for a stud farm and the fields are stud fenced. The house would make an ideal mixed farm, equestrian centre or country hotel. With the surrounding acreage and woodland, it could also provide a very secluded family home for a millionaire. There is just under 10,000 sq ft of living accommodation. An entrance hall leads to a timber-floored inner hallway. This has an unusual glass ceiling dome with a gallery on the first floor. There are very fine frescos over the arched doorway and the doors to the reception rooms. The three reception rooms are all spacious, with ornate cornicing and period fireplaces. There is a ballroom with a polished wood floor and ceiling coving. The kitchen on this floor has a walk-in pantry and there is a cloakroom and office area off. The original kitchen is in the basement area and this has a utility hall, drying room, wine cellar, harness room and a selection of storerooms. The seven bedrooms are all on the first floor, off a galleried landing. Three of these are en suite and there are two family bathrooms and a shower room.

A self-contained one-bedroom apartment within the main house has a sittingrooom, bedroom, kitchen and shower. Adjoining the house but accessed from outside, there are four additional one-bedroom apartments used for the staff of Bracklyn Estate. There is also a pair of three-bedroom semi-detached houses and a cottage along the main driveway. An isolation yard with 14 stables and an open shed are beside the cottage.

Around the house there are two courtyards each housing 31 loose boxes with three turnout paddocks. There is also a foaling unit, a training unit, sheep unit with lambing shed and further loose boxes, barns and a lunging ring.