The village retreat of legendary actor and director Sir John Gielgud is on the market for the first time in more than 50 years.

Ffuleslo near Finchingfield is a Grade II listed four bedroom cottage with just over 1.5 acres of grounds.

Gielgud bought the farmhouse following the success of the West End smash hit Richard of Bordeaux and the purchase was reported to have fulfilled his lifelong dream of owning a house in the country.

When he and his partner, John Perry, found it on a gloomy winter’s day he decided to buy it immediately.

Gielgud, who was famous for classic films including The Elephant Man and Chariots of Fire, extended the main house to give him more space for entertaining his acting friends and converted a thatched barn in the grounds into a studio apartment for his housekeeper.

Ffuleslo is on the market for £675,000.