Medieval Eastgate has a guideprice of £125,000 and will be going under the hammer in April.

The Grade-II listed property is one of two surviving gatehouses in the town and was previously used as a classroom by Kings High School.

Warwick Society chairman James Mackay has welcomed the sale but fears the cost of repairing and maintaining the building may deter potential buyers.

He said "It is a most extraordinary building.

"But it has not been very well repaired and it is difficult to see what use would allow somebody to spend that much money on it.

"Ideally it will be bought by someone who will have full access to grants to do the work such as a charitable trust."

Visible at the top of Smith Street, the property was sold to its current owners for around £90,000 five years ago and provided a regular income when it was rented out to the school.

But Mr Mackay said anyone looking to buy the building, which is also a scheduled ancient monument, will be taking on a big responsibility as well as the cost of repairs, which have been estimated at around £250,000.

Inside the gatehouse there is a large room with a clock tower above it. Mr Mackay said the building's access will make it difficult to use the property as a public space.

He said: "It is only accessible by a single staircase and has no space for disabled access so it couldn't be for public use such as a tourist information office and it is not suitable as a classroom or office space.

"It is a lot of building for not very much useable space."

Warwick district councillor Elizabeth Higgins (Con, Warwick West) hopes the new owner will mend the clock so visitors and residents can read the correct time.

She said: "The main thing for the town is to get the clock working as a lot of people are annoyed that it doesn't work. It has been saying 2.45pm for around 20 years.

"It is important for us to look after the building as it has so much history and dates back to the 12th century but unfortunately, like the Leper Hospital, I can't think of a use for it."

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The property is for sale with Hawkesford and the auction is on Wednesday April 14 at 6pm at the Warwick Arms Hotel in High Street.

Viewing is by arrangement through Hawkesford on 430553.