With a price tag of £2.5 million, what is very likely to be the most expensive home in York has come on to the property market.

On the edge of the city sits historic Middlethorpe Manor, which was once home to Sir Francis Terry, one of the city's famous chocolate barons.

Not far from the imposing Terry's factory, in Bishopthorpe Road, where Sir Francis held the reins, the country house nestles in a secluded location at the far end of the hamlet of Middlethorpe.

Set in nearly six acres of grounds, the nine-bedroom house boasts a leisure annexe, with indoor swimming pool and games room, a vaulted wine cellar, and billiard room.

This delightful des res, which was built in the early 18th century by the Barlow family and has been the seat of a succession of lords of the manor, also comes with a four-car garage and tennis court.

Its three floors comprise a drawing room, morning room, dining room, bar room, kitchen, two laundry rooms, master bedroom suite, with two en suite dressing rooms, nursery, guest bedroom with en suite bathroom, seven other bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study and a box room.

And its grounds boast lawns, an Italian box garden, woodland, and a stable and tack room.

Paul Spencer, at property consultants FPD Savills, which is handling the sale, said: "It has to be one of the most expensive properties in York, if not the most expensive for an individual residence."

The firm has already received inquiries from potential buyers.

Sir Francis is said to have enjoyed its sumptuous surroundings during his time as chairman at Terry's.

There is a story of an occasion in the mid-1930s when a tray of new centres was taken to the chairman's office.

Sir Francis tasted one, exclaimed "this is disgusting!", and hurled the entire contents of the tray out of the window.

But Sir Francis, who retired in 1958, two years before his death, was far from being a tyrant.

He was a perfectionist, respected for his technical know-how, and would take off his coat and get to work on a machine which was causing trouble.