A CLUSTER of farm buildings built by Thomas Hardy's father is up for sale at more than £4.5 million.

The buildings, near Hardy's house in Higher Bockhamp-ton, have been converted into 18 luxury holiday homes, sleeping between two and 10 people.

And for a week-long stay at Greenwood Grange, visitors pay between £300 and £3,000.

The courtyard of barns, built by Hardy's father 150 years ago, scooped an award from the English Tourist Board when they were converted into luxury holiday cottages 20 years ago.

Since then, the complex has been named the best self-catering holiday in the South West and featured on TV's Wish You Were Here. Guests can enjoy a heated indoor swimming pool, complete with a 15ft Roman-style mural and framed by fluted and scrolled columns.

There is also a sauna, solarium, Jacuzzi, gym, games room, tennis courts and lawns for croquet and badminton.

The cottages sit alongside Thorncombe Woods, made famous in Under The Greenwood Tree, and estate agent Savills claims Hardy refers to them in his poem The Oxen.

Each one is named after a place in Hardy Country.

There is Wessex, Abbotsea, Melstock, Durbaville, and of course, Casterbridge - a larger cottage with its own garden.

Kay Smith of Savills said: "Greenwood Grange is in a beautiful setting, steeped in history, and is a very sound business proposition.

"It has a reputation as one of Britain's best holiday complexes and enjoys very high occupancy rates."

Savills is inviting offers for the complex as a whole, at around £4,520,000, or in five lots ranging from £30,000 to £2.85 million.

The closing date for offers is Thursday, June 21, at noon.