Land that was once the site of a medieval village is up for auction in Lincoln.

Orford, between Binbrook and Brookenby, near Market Rasen, was once home to a group of residents who would sound more at home in a Lord of the Rings novel.

But now the ruins of Aethelstan, Arnketil, Ulfgrimr and Earl Waltheof's former settlement are looking for a new owner.

Rob Ward, a partner at estate agents JH Walter which is handling the sale, said it was quite rare to see a scheduled ancient monument come on to the open market.

"It's certainly a very unusual property," he said.

"The field contains a scheduled ancient monument but when you are there you can't tell.

"It just seems like a lovely bit of Lincolnshire countryside."

The former village of Orford grew up next to the St Mary of Orford Nunnery, a Premonestarian order founded in the 12th Century and dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539.

But the 22.57 acre site, set in a Lincolnshire Wolds valley that forms part of an area of outstanding natural beauty, has more recently been used for grazing, and is being advertised with a guide price of £75,000.

Former archeologist Richard Pullen, from North Scarle, said many people might think the land would be a great buy for an amateur antiquarianist - but that might not be the case.

"Sites have to be very special and meet certain requirements in order to be scheduled in the first place, and quite often they are sold with an understanding that you can't really do anything with them.

"You would need special permission before you could even consider building on the site."

The sale will take place at the Bentley Hotel, near Lincoln, on March 10.