VISITORS to spectacular Witley Court have been stunned by the For Sale sign at the former stately home - and are baffled as to exactly who would buy the ruin.

The site's owners, the Wigington Family of Stratford-upon-Avon, posted the freehold for sale on auction site eBay for £975,000.

But the majestic location is in the guardianship of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell MP, and is managed on her behalf by English Heritage.

That arrangement would continue, regardless of who buys the site, and Witley Court will remain unchanged as a visitor attraction, an English Heritage spokesman said.

The new owner would not even be able to hold a party in the grounds without English Heritage's permission.

"Basically nothing would change," she said.

Visitors yesterday questioned who would pay almost a million for a property they could not use to make a profit.

Neither would they be unable to alter because it is a scheduled ancient monument and a Grade I listed building.

Theories ranged from celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Richard Branson to "some American" or a charitable trust.

"It's absolutely wonderful, though I couldn't say who'd buy it," said Jane Brislin from Droitwich, after her first visit to the Court.

"Someone would have to have a lot of money and not know what to do with it."

"It would probably be someone famous who'd want to 'give it to the people'," said her husband Tony.

One celebrity whose name has been connected to Witley Court by in the past is George Michael, rumoured to have wanted to buy it during the 1980s and shoot a video there in the 1990s.

Once the Earl of Dudley's family seat, it has had several brushes with celebrity in the past, including regular royal visits from Edward, Prince of Wales and plans by Sir Billy Butlin to move two fountains to his garden.

It was gutted by fire in 1937, then later stripped of its fixtures and fittings and left as an empty shell.

John Wigington bought Witley Court as an investment opportunity for £20,000 in 1953.

English Heritage have been the guardian of the property since its formation in 1984, but are not likely to become a bidder.

"We have no current plans to purchase the freehold," said the spokesman.