AN HISTORIC castle near Ludlow is up for sale.

Wigmore Castle, in north Herefordshire, and its grounds are currently on the market for £500,000.

Whilst the ruins themselves are grade 1 listed and must by law be made open to the public, the buyer would receive planning consent to convert an existing workshop into a two bedroomed dwelling.

The workshop is a steel framed, timber clad barn, which is not visible from the remains of Wigmore Castle. The building would be renovated into accommodation with an open plan living area on the ground floor and a first floor two bedrooms and a bathroom.

The land surrounding the castle extends in total to 29.84 acres, of which about 14.19 acres is permanent grassland, about 13.65 acres is mixed woodland and the remainder buildings, tracks, and grounds. The plot also includes a moat and a former jousting field.

The castle has been described by English Heritage as “among the most remarkable ruins in England” and is of great historical interest.

It was originally founded in 1067 by an ally of William the conqueror and was then held by the Mortimer family, who ruled over much of Herefordshire and the marches. Significant portions of the castle were destroyed by Cromwell’s forces during the civil war, leaving the site to be taken over by English Heritage in the 1990s.

Viewing of the workshop is strictly by appointment. Viewing days have provisionally been arranged for August 30, September 1, 6 and 15.

Since the site is accessible to the public, viewing of the land may take place on foot at any time.

The property is being offered for sale as a whole by Formal Tender.

The deadline for tender documents is October 6.