FANS of D H Lawrence can buy a slice of literary history for the princely sum of £1 million as 'Wragby Hall' has gone up for sale.
Properly known as Teversal Manor, the six-bedroom house is said to be the inspiration for Wragby Hall in Lady Chatterley's Lover and is referenced many times in the 1928 novel.
Owner Janet Marples, 69, says: "During the first world war, the house was used for the rehabilitation of soldiers. They put a slope down to the second garden terrace for wheelchairs and it's said D H Lawrence got the idea for Constance's husband Clifford from that, as he was in a wheelchair."
In the book, Wragby Hall is where Constance Chatterley lives with her paralysed husband Clifford and it's from which she creeps at night to visit her working class lover, Mellors.
Janet and her husband John, 72, have lived in the house for 19 years and have lovingly restored much of the house and grounds.
Janet says: "We've done an awful lot of work to it, it only had four radiators when we moved in. It was divided up with doors blocked off and we opened it back up again.
"We still get a lot of letters from people who are interested in the history of the property."
The manor house is located in Teversal old village (known as Tevershall in Lawrence's book), Sutton-in-Ashfield and it's said D H Lawrence was inspired by the grand home while taking a walk around the area in 1926.
Lady Chatterley's Lover caused a storm when it was first published in Britain, with uproar relating to its sexual content and was banned in England for over 30 years.
Other figures from history with links to Teversal Manor include Lord and Lady Carnarvon who lived there in the late 1800s. Another regular visitor at Teversal was the author Virginia Woolf, who spent time there recuperating.
Patrick Williamson of Savills Estate Agents, who is marketing the property, believes the house's historical significance makes it attractive to buyers.
He says: "The house has the feeling and presence that you can only get from a historical building of this sort of size.
"It would make a great wedding venue with its location next to the church."
The house has only been on the market for ten days but they've had a lot of interest and four people have already viewed the property.
Patrick says: "It requires someone to buy it who's going to want to take on a very significant building and the work that comes along with that."
Teversal Manor stands in 17.89 acres of formal gardens, which Janet and John restored. The house itself is entirely habitable but does need some work.
Janet says: "It needs someone who's going to love it again and is happy to put money into it. They need to care for it and keep it as it should be and not spoil its history."
Anyone interested in Teversal Manor can call Patrick Williamson of Savills Estate Agents in Fletcher Gate on 0115 934 8000.
