HEREFORDSHIRE'S castle of dreams - historic Hampton Court - is being put on the market by its American owners. The asking price is likely to be in the region of 'a few million pounds.'

The multi-millionaire Van Kampen family bought the crumbling 15th century property and its 1,000-acre estate in 1994. They spent a thumping $17.5 million on restoration and creating gardens which they opened to the public.

The castle's restored chapel, fabulous baronial halls stuffed with suits of armour and bedrooms with four-poster beds were opened for fairy-tale weddings and feasts earlier this year.

Now the Van Kampens are said to want to concentrate on 'other projects'. The family has developed a successful $16 million Biblical theme park The Holy Land Experience, at Orlando in their home state of Florida, which they hope to expand on.

Staff at Hampton Court say the Herefordshire venture was really 'Bob's baby.' Former investment banker Robert Van Kampen died in 1999, aged 60, while awaiting a heart bypass operation.

His family carried on to complete the costly restoration of the Grade I listed castle and the development of lavish ornamental gardens, organic vegetable gardens, a caf in a converted orangery and special events. Now the family wants to move on to other interests.

Estate manager Ed Waghorn said it was hoped a sympathetic new owner could be found to build on Hampton Court's success and keep it open to the public.

He said: "We hope Hampton Court can be sold as a going concern. Hire of the castle for weddings and conferences is going very well and the gardens made a profit last year.

"The future is looking quite bright."

Local materials and craftsmanship have been key to the project. Produce from the walled garden, sold at the garden shop, is fully organic. Mr Waghorn believes there is "huge potential" for developments with an environmental sustainability theme.

A huge sweep of the River Lugg - including a spectacular weir - runs through the grounds. It could be used to run water wheels.

The estate, which includes eight cottages, farm buildings and 1,000 acres, is likely to be put on the market later this month or early next month. But the manager has already started to put out feelers to find a sympathetic buyer. Such a person would need to have "a few million pounds."

Hampton Court has been home to some of Herefordshire's most important families over the centuries.

King Henry IV knighted Sir Rowland Lenthall for valour on the battlefield at Agincourt. Twelve years later, in 1427, when Rowland married Margaret Fitzalan, daughter of the Earl of Arundel and cousin of the king, Henry granted his knight the manor of Hampton Court.

In later times it passed to the Coningsby family, then to Sir Richard Arkwright, son of the famed inventor of the 'spinning jenny,' and his descendants.