THERE could be a new lord or lady of the manor as a rare title once held by King Henry VIII is on the market with a listed farmhouse.

Wix Abbey is up for sale with Fenn Wright with a guide price of £1.15million.

The small Elizabethan Hall House was built by the Vesey family between 1561 and 1575 on land once owned by Wix Priory, a small convent of Benedictine nuns.

The nunnery was in existence for about 400 years until it was suppressed by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525 together with several other small monasteries in Essex to boost the royal coffers.

The priory's lands were sold off and the buildings as well as the convent church were demolished.

Wix Abbey was built on part of the land that had been granted to Cardinal's College Oxford - the college Wolsey had just founded.

But along with the five bedrooms, grand entrance hall and drawing room, there is also a unique chance to become Lord of the Manor of Wix.

The title predates the house, having been held by Cardinal Wolsey until his downfall and subsequent arrest for treason and then passing to King Henry VIII.

It stayed with owners of the abbey until the early 19th Century.

In 2001 the then owners bought the title back at auction.

Current owner, Raymond Linch said: “The Lord and Ladyship of Wix Abbey dates back to the Reformation when Cardinal Wolsey created the title and then subsequently granted it to King Henry VIII. "We purchased the title from the previous owner but I believe it’s important for it to remain with the house, so hopefully the new buyer will be interested in acquiring it as the custodian of this important historical dwelling."

Jonathon Perry, partner in charge at Fenn Wright's signature team, said: "It's extremely rare to have a property that can come with a title.

"And when you look at period properties, you don't get many that look like this.

"It's a one off type of property that attracts people to look at."

The Lord of the Manor of Wix title is available to new owners by separate negotiation.

For more details visit fennwright.co.uk/property/wix/