IT’S a property fit for a king, and house-hunters now have the chance to buy their own castle – complete with the title of Lord and Lady.

Boasting Norman towers, battlements, a moat and a restored Tudor manor house, Wilton Castle on the edge of Ross-on-Wye has been put up for sale for a cool £1.5m by its owners Alan and Susan Parslow, who bought the Grade I-listed ancient monument in 2002 and have transformed it into a “historic paradise”.

Originally a motte-and-bailey castle built to guard the River Wye crossing and protect the border, it acted as a base for soldiers for 300 years.

The manor house was built using parts of the castle walls in the 16th century by Sir John Brydges, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, but was later destroyed in the Civil War.

Guy’s Hospital purchased the monument in 1731 and owned it for 230 years before a private buyer bought it in 1961.

It features elements of Norman, Elizabethan, Georgian and Victorian architecture as well as the restored five-bedroom Tudor manor house.

Alan, 75, and Susan, 71, bought the castle for just under £500,000 in 2002 and have spent the last ten years lovingly restoring the two-acre property, but say they are now looking to downsize to be closer to their family.

Mrs Parslow said: “For the first five years it was unliveable. The rampart walls were dangerous – mountains of rubble. You couldn’t get upstairs and we had to wear hard hats everywhere.

“Alan could see the potential. He used to be a builder and a farmer, and is good at juggling money.

“We also had a massive grant from English Heritage. And lastly, our builders had just finished work on Wells Cathedral, so they really knew what they were doing.”

Mrs Parslow added: “We will be very sad to leave, but we need to be near our children.”

The sandstone castle was built in the mid-12th Century by the De Longchamps, who included Henry de Longchamps, who was born and died there and was a chief adviser to King Richard, and another who became chancellor of England.

It then passed after three generations by marriage to the De Grey family, who lived there for 300 years until William Grey, the 13th Baron Grey de Wilton, had to sell it to pay a ransom after being captured while fighting in France in 1557.

He had also sailed close to the wind as an active supporter of the 10-day queen Lady Jane Grey, but escaped with a pardon.

By now the military importance of the castle had diminished, and the manor house was built in the grounds by new owner Sir John Brydges.

The property is advertised with two estate agents, Jackson-Stops and Andrew and comes with the option to buy the title “the Lord of Wilton Castle”.

Due to a 10-year agreement with English Heritage, the castle had to be shared with the public for 28 days of the year, but this is due to expire.

The converted manor house boasts a large reception room as well as a study and former chapel, plus exposed stonework. Outside a private driveway leads to a parking area alongside stables and visitor facilities.

Originally the castle had a gatehouse and five towers, with walls surrounded by a moat, which is now dry, but the stream that fed it still flows through the gardens.

Three of the original towers remain - the East Tower was later converted into a dovecote, while the Parslows have restored the North West Tower.

Sue says: ‘English Heritage were reluctant at first, but we really wanted people to see at least a part of the castle as it would have been.

“We put back floors, doors, leaded windows, roof and chimney. It’s been a magnet for romantics. We kept being asked whether we would allow it to be used for weddings, so we applied for a licence, which is still operational.”

To see more photos of the property go to www.jackson-stops.co.uk