Agents are licensed to sell off Bond's Cheshire home; 007's former house goes on the market for pounds 1m.

Byline: BY LIAM MURPHY Daily Post Staff

ESTATE agents have been "licensed to sell" the former Cheshire country pile of 007 actor Roger Moore.

The 17th-century Broxton Hall manor house, near Chester, has gone on the market for a cool pounds 1m.

Set in four acres of land, the hotel has 10 en-suite guest bedrooms and a further five for staff, as well as an owners' apartment.

Once the home of the James Bond legend and star of The Saint - along with countless movies - the hall was built in 1671 and has at different times been used as a Magistrates' Court, an Inland Revenue office and stud farm.

Roger Moore lived there during his second marriage, to the singer Dorothy Squires. The marriage ended in the late 1960s.

In recent years, the star has devoted much of his time to charity work, supporting Unicef around the world.

Lord Grosvenor, part of the Duke of Westminster's family, lived and died at the hall at the end of the 19th century.

Owner John Ireland believes the versatile building could support yet another new lease of life.

He said: "It has had a number of uses in the past and I believe it could be developed as a venue, as offices or as residences."

The fully-licensed venue has recently become popular with wedding parties and racegoers, thanks to its proximity to Chester and Bangor-on-Dee racecourses, and even has helicopter landing rights.

It also boasts a 65-cover restaurant with a conservatory, and planning permission for an annex.

Originally owned by the landed Massie family, in Tudor times, Broxton Hall passed to the Egertons, who continue to own property in the area to this day.

The Hall is currently being sold on behalf of Anjo (Broxton) Ltd by property agent Paramount Investments.

There are fears that the building could be redeveloped for other uses if no-one from the leisure industry steps forward to buy it. Paramount managing director Mark Greig said: "Broxton Hall is a prestigious local venue with a good deal of character and old-world charm.

"It is an excellent wedding venue and the planning permissions attached to it make it an ideal investment to develop for the future, whether as a successful hotel or as an alternative use - possibly as a care home, a spa, housing or a finedining restaurant."

MORE details about the venue are available at www.paramountinvestments.co.uk."

CAPTION(S):

Roger Moore; Broxton Hall, near Chester, where Roger Moore lived while married to the singer Dorothy Squires, in the 1960s