Eccentric millionaire Sir Benjamin Slade puts part of Somerset estate Maunsel House on the market - for £2.2 million

The new owner of the 398-acre nature reserve, part of Sir Benjamin's Maunsel House estate on the Somerset Levels, will receive a £90,000-a-year grant income from Natural England.

Priced at £2.2million, the plot is currently owned by millionaire aristocrat Sir Benjamin Slade and forms part of the 2,000-acre estate, near North Petherton.

Its owner will gain the prestigious ancient title 'Wardwick of the North Moor', created in 878 by Alfred the Great during his stay in the region.

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There are only six ancient Wardship of the Moor titles in existence.

Ownership rules state that the buyer will have the responsibility of escorting the reigning monarch safely across the moor in a time of war.

ON SALE: An overview of the plot

Eccentric Sir Benjamin, 72, made headlines last year after publicising his search to find a wife who can provide him with two sons.

His eyebrow-raising list of requirements for the perfect "breeder" stated she should be taller than 5ft 6ins - preferably 6ft 1ins or 6ft 2ins - aged between 30 and 40, possess a gun licence and be "castle trained".

Sir Benjamin, who made his fortune as a shipping magnate, also made headlines in 2012 after police staged a dramatic raid on his home, which saw him charged with possessing a firearm without a certificate and breaching a shotgun certificate by leaving a weapon unsecured.

He said he used the shotgun to shoot at foxes from his bedroom window.

The descendant of King George IV said he wants a "lady of the house" who is happy with £50,000 a month "pocket money".

The grant income could increase if the new owner introduces more rare bird species to the plot, a brochure advertising its sale states.

Sir Benjamin is reluctantly selling the land along with smaller plots to finance a major new house building project in another area of the estate, near Bridgwater.

ECCENTRIC: Sir Benjamin Slade at Maunsel House

He said: "I really don't want to let it go but new houses are a social priority and needs must.

"However, I would be willing to buy the nature reserve back at a profit in four years if the new owner chose to take up the guaranteed buy-back option I am offering, as I will need it to set off capital gains tax.

"It is a very safe investment with an excellent income."

The 'for sale' brochure states: "For the sporting rifle enthusiast there is deer shooting on the land, this mainly consists of Roe Deer but the occasional Red does come down from the moors.

"Natural England encourages the control of foxes, magpies and other pests, which are a threat to the wading birds and rare species on the site as long as this is done with sensitivity and consideration for the rare bird species on the land.

"For example, rifles of all calibres should be fitted with effective sound moderators and shooting should be avoided during the breeding season in the actual breeding areas of the site.

"Wildfowl shooting also available by special agreement with Natural England but due to the SSSI status of the land it is subject to certain restrictions including the frequency of wildfowl shooting, and obviously the use of lead shot is not allowed.

"The site will only be sold as a whole but it could be syndicated between a club, organisation or group of friends."

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The Somerset Levels were flooded in 2012 and 2014. Since then, the Environment Agency has invested heavily in the infrastructure and dredging.

This includes the installation of massive pumps to control water levels.

Part of the land includes a raised water level area - a habitat for breeding and wintering wading birds including Lapwings.

HISTORIC HOME: Maunsel House