Chelmarsh Hall is put up for rent

A former sanctuary for Shropshire monks, described as one of the county's hidden secrets, is on the market after being transformed into a modern seven-bedroom home.

Chelmarsh Hall, near Bridgnorth, was populated by monks until the Dissolution of Monasteries Act was passed during the reign of Henry VIII, when they were sold off or given away to the nobility and landed gentry.

The medieval monastic grange is now on the market as a luxury home, with a rental price of £2,300 per month.

• Click on the gallery to your right for more pictures of Chelmarsh Hall

Jayne Tart, head of lettings at Balfours which is marketing the property, described it as "one of Shropshire's unique hidden secrets".

She said: "Chelmarsh Hall is a stunning piece of architecture, cleverly connecting many different periods of English history from down the centuries.

"The house underwent a Victorian gothic modernisation which now bestows the inspiring 19th century gothic architecture to the front facade."

The most recent chapter for Chelmarsh Hall is a complete programme of modernisation for 21st century living.

It has a large live-in kitchen, with Aga, formal dining room and drawing room. On the first floor there are four bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms, while the house also includes a further three bedrooms, and one additional bathroom.

Mrs Tart said: "Imagine what the monks would have made of category five computer cabling — and if any of them still reside in a spiritual form — perhaps they won't be too pleased about the potential for CCTV system which is available."

The building also comes with stables, outbuildings, garden and a five-acre front paddock.