A GRAND Victorian observatory house has been put up for sale.

The building is in one of Durham City’s most exclusive areas, stands within the grounds of Durham University’s Grade II-listed observatory, is accessed by a private driveway and was formerly home to renowned botanist David Bellamy.

Recently, it has been used as student accommodation but Durham University says it cannot provide 21st Century facilities and so it is selling the property.

Observatory House was built in 1897 for Professor Ralph Allen Sampson, with instructions the build cost was “not to exceed £1,500”. It came in £90 under budget.

While at Durham, Prof Sampson studied the motions of Jupiter’s four Galilean satellites, work for which he later won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1928.

Prof Bellamy lived in the 4,431sq ft property, which sits in a site covering 0.81 acres, while a botany lecturer at the university.

In his book Jolly Green Giant, he described it as “a great place in which to raise our now multicultural family”.

Matthew Wright, an estate surveyor in Durham University’s estates and buildings department, said: “It is in a lovely location, our residents loved its rural setting and proximity to both the city centre as well as the academic buildings on Mountjoy.

“Unfortunately it can’t easily be reconfigured to provide the residential facilities that students expect at Durham in the 21st Century, so the difficult decision was taken to dispose of the property.”

James Platts, a partner at Knight Frank who is handling the sale, said he expected a great deal of interest in the property.

Sealed bids must be delivered to Knight Frank’s office at St Ann’s Quay, Newcastle, for Mr Platts’ attention by 5pm on Friday, May 31.