The owners of a Grade I listed castle have put it up for sale for the first time in 700 years - for an incredible £21m.

Lady Emma Ingilby and Sir Thomas Ingilby are putting Ripley Castle in North Yorks., which boasts turrets, a lake, secret passageways and even deer on the market.

The castle will also be sold with the estate, which includes a cricket pitch, a hotel, a village store, a shoot yard, a gift shop and tearooms.

The estate hasn't been sold in over 700 years and Sir Thomas inherited the property when he was 18.

King James I stayed at the property ahead of his coronation in 1603 while Oliver Cromwell stayed here for the The Battle of Marston Moor in 1944.

But Sir Thomas and Lady Ingilby now want to sell the castle so they can spend time with their four grandchildren and travel.

Lady Ingilby said: "We'd like to do some travelling."

"And we've got four grandchildren, we're likely to have some more – we've two family weddings this summer."

"I'd like to be able to spend time with our grandchildren. We were working seven days a week. It's about having time. "

"You suddenly realise, ‘we're nearly 70'."

The couple have even joked that Taylor Swift could buy the property as they would have enough room to store Christmas trees - which her family sold when she was growing up.

Sir Thomas said: "Personally I'm holding out for Taylor Swift."

"She hasn't been in touch yet, but you never know with luck. "

"We've room for Christmas trees, which is the family business."

In the last five years alone, a whopping £2.5 million has been spent on renovations on the castle.

Sir Thomas said: "The village and the castle are very different places from what they were when I took over."

"I look back at the early aerial photographs and it was like a scene from old Emmerdale – stuff falling down everywhere. "

"You forget how much you've done."

Sir Thomas and Lady Ingilby are hoping to find new owners who can "relish the history" but joked that they don't have to sign up for 700 years. "

Lady Ingilby says she's planning to stay in the local area but doesn't want to " breath down the necks of any new owners."

The mum-of-five said: "We are planning to stay locally at the moment."

"We are certainly not leaving Yorkshire. Goodness gracious no, definitely not leaving Yorkshire."

"We'd love to stay. Ripley runs through us like a stick of rock, it gets into your soul."

"It's a very happy village. Most people stay here and end up in the churchyard. "

"We don't want to breath down the necks of any new owners. We're there if they need us."

Prospective buyers have been told that offers will be considered which could split the estate into up to nine parts.

Mark Granger, from estate agents Carter Jonas, said this was a "once-in-a-700-year opportunity" to purchase the property."

He said: "Not just a once-in-lifetime chance, but truly a once-in-a-700-year opportunity to purchase an estate that encompasses historical significance, architectural splendour and beauty."

"The manageable estate is perfectly situated and features extensive parkland and lakes, forming an integral part of the village of Ripley. "

"Even having known the estate for a long time, I remain consistently moved by its uniqueness."