This is the grand house where engineer Thomas Telford dreamed up the innovative design for a church in Shropshire more than 200 years ago.

Now his Grade II-listed former home in East Castle Street in Bridgnorth, which neighbours Bridgnorth’s parish church, has been put up for sale.

The current occupants of the Georgian property are Andy Leslie, his wife Kristina, who is head of English at Shrewsbury School, and their four children aged seven to 19 years. The asking price is £650,000.

• See more pictures of the property in our gallery to your right

The family have lived at Eastcliffe for about four years but they now want to be closer to Shrewsbury in order to cut down on travelling.

Michael Nettleton is director of estate agent Nock Deighton, which is handling the sale of the property.

Mr Nettleton said: “Thomas Telford lived in the house during his time as surveyor of public works in Shropshire in the late 18th century, and it was in this period when he came up with the innovative design for Bridgnorth’s Parish Church, which is aligned north to south, rather than the more conventional west to east.

“A fitting home for such a world-famous architect and engineer as Telford, Eastcliffe combines a practical town centre location with remarkable views to the rear, where a gravelled courtyard leads out to a garden and decked sun terrace.”

Engineer – Thomas Telford

Mr Leslie said the family were sorry to be leaving the home.

“We knew that the house had history,” he said.

“We knew Thomas Telford lived there while doing work on St Mary Magdalene Church.

“The house was built in about 1730 so it had already been there 60 years when he lived there.”

He said the three floor house has views over the gorge and River Severn.

Mr Leslie said: “We absolutely love it, we don’t want to move but my wife is head of English at Shrewsbury School and increasingly its her life six days a week so quite often we find ourselves in the evening having to go to Shrewsbury.

“We just want to be a bit nearer.” Nock Deighton is inviting offers on the property, which has seven bedrooms – three en suite – a farmhouse-style kitchen, an entrance hall, three cellar rooms, and a 23ft drawing room on the first floor.

For more information about the property telephone the Bridgnorth office on (01746) 767767.

Telford, who became Shropshire’s county surveyor, was born in 1757 and died in 1834. He designed the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, and the Shrewsbury and Ellesmere canals.

He also designed the bridge at Buildwas and the London to Holyhead road, which now forms much of the A5.