The Lock House, Ardreigh, Athy, Co Kildare, is perched on a one-acre site on the banks of the Grand Canal and River Barrow . . . and back then, the couple just couldn't resist.

"We had moved back from London to live in our native Dublin, but were also keen to find somewhere in the countryside as a holiday escape, " says Paul. "We came across the Lock House by chance, after discovering that the holiday home we had come to look at had been sold in the meantime. But we weren't disappointed with our accidental discovery. I could see how unique the property was, and how unlikely we were ever to find something like that again. So, we bought it, and despite worries at the back of our minds that it was a big step to take, decided to move to live there permanently. And we have had some of the happiest times of our lives here since."

The Lock House was built in 1830 by CIE as the official lockeeper's home at that time.

In the l960s, the company sold the property on to a series of local owners.

When the Reids bought in 1996, they decided to add on two new wings either side of what is the original house and where the walls are some three feet thick in places.

They also decided to create an income with one of the new extensions set as a separate, seven-bedroomed B & B.

The entire floor space of the Lock House is approximately 376 sq m (4,050 sq ft).

There are three bedrooms in the main, private house.

Accommodation there comprises the hall, leading off to the living room with open archway to the fitted kitchen.

The first of the three bedrooms is on the ground floor also. A spiral staircase leads to the first floor which has two bedrooms, bathroom, and sitting room with double doors to the balcony overlooking the river.

All seven private rooms in the B & B are en suite.

There is a reception hall, fitted kitchen and the formal dining room has an open fireplace and polished wooden floor.

Outside is a long gravelled drive and a very large surrounding lawn. A ten minute walk along the canal bank leads to the heritage town of Athy, which in turn is 80 kms from Dublin.

The couple and their two children are now selling up and moving back to London again, where work for Paul waits in the area of sustainable energy projects.

The next owners won't have to worry about the business of opening the lock . . . the official man for the job, Noel, is contacted by people on the river when they need to move along. The couple had thought about about getting a barge of their own and putting it on the canal at some stage, but between running the B & B and just enjoying the leisurely pace of life the rest of the time, life was good enough.

"When the sun shines here it's wonderful, " says Paul.

"The summer of 2003 particularly stands out in terms of happy memories. We started lighting the barbecue as early as St Patrick's Day that year, and the summer itself was so hot, that I even did the unthinkable . . . I had a dip in the water as well."

Price: AMV 800,000;

public auction 31 May 2006 Agent: Jordan 045-433 550