This might Tickle your fancy – although, with an asking price of nearly £4million, you'd have to be Mr Rich to buy it. A sprawling country home where some of the most famous and best-loved children’s books were written has come on to the market.
Nestled in 30 acres of countryside on the Kent-Sussex border, Sussex House Farm was once home to Roger Hargreaves, author of the Mr Men and Little Miss books.
The author bought the 16th century property in 1982 after the first books in the series became a runaway success.
Before that it had been home to Oscar-winning actor John Mills and his daughter Hayley.
Mr Hargreaves lived at Sussex House until his untimely death from a stroke aged just 53 in 1988. His family – wife Christine and their children Adam, Giles and twin daughters Sophie and Amelia – continued to live there until 1992.
Adam, 63 – who has continued the Mr Men books – previously said: ‘During the 1970s my dad became a wealthy man. And he enjoyed his success. One of those perks was a very nice house.’
The Grade II-listed mock Tudor property on Cowden, near Edenbridge, has since undergone extensive renovations by its latest owners and has a swimming pool, tennis court and converted stables.
Dating back to 1580, it has nine bedrooms and eight bathrooms and is now on the market, with offers being invited in excess of £3.95million.
The late John Mills, who starred in more than 120 films over seven decades – including his Oscar-winning Ryan’s Daughter role in 1971 – lived at the property during the 1950s and 1960s. His daughter Hayley, star of Whistle Down The Wind, spent much of her childhood there.
The sprawling country estate formerly owned by the author of the Mr Men books is on sale for £4million
Sussex House Farm in Cowden, Kent, boasts nine bedrooms and eight bathrooms
The Grade II-listed farmhouse dates back to 1580 and was also once home to actor John Mills and his daughter Hayley
Estate agent Benji Weinberger, representing the company selling the house, said: 'What makes this estate so special is its sense of complete serenity, peace and privacy.
'Standing in the garden or beside the pool, looking across the surrounding acreage, the only sound you hear is birdsong.
'Yet, with London Bridge under an hour away, it works equally well as a family home or a weekend escape. For its price, location and historical significance, it is an almost impossible offering to replicate, particularly for equestrian or tennis enthusiasts.'
Offers for the property are invited in excess of £3.95million.
Mr Hargreaves worked in advertising in the late 1950s, but always dreamed of writing and illustrating for children, which is where he came up with the ideas for the Mr Men books.
Mr Tickle, the first book published in 1971, was inspired by his son, then eight, who asked what a tickle looked like.
The author sketched a round orange man with a blue bowler hat and exceptionally long bendy arms. The book sold a million copies in its first three weeks.
However, it wasn't a straightforward journey to publication. Adam later told how no one wanted to publish it at first until his father met with an old friend who had just started a publishing company.
Mr Hargreaves then started illustrating during his lunch breaks at work when the first six characters were launched which also included Mr Greedy, Mr Happy, Mr Nosey, Mr Sneeze and Mr Bump.
A decade later in 1981, the first Little Miss book arrived in the shape of Little Miss Bossy, followed by Little Miss Naughty and Little Miss Sunshine.
The books went on to sell more than 250million copies worldwide. They were adapted into a BBC TV series, songs and his comic strips were published by the Daily Mail.
The books have sold more than 250million copies worldwide
The author bought the property in 1982 and moved in with his wife Christine and their four children Adam, Giles and twin daughters Sophie and Amelia
Adam Hargreaves took over the Mr Men series after his father's death in 1988
After Mr Hargreaves' sudden death, his son Adam took over the family business aged 25 and started writing his own books in the series – including Mr Cool, Mr Rude and Mr Good, Little Miss Scary, Little Miss Bad and Little Miss Whoops.
He has, however, spoken about how he found the books 'embarrassing' when he was a teenager. He said: 'I was very shy, so I shied away with having any connection with the Mr Men. I didn't like anything which drew attention to myself so I tended to try and ignore it. It did embarrass me rather.
'I regret the way I felt now as, because my dad died so young, I didn't get to tell him how I felt about Mr Men and what a brilliant idea I think it is.'
A Mr Men or Little Miss book is still sold every two-and-a-half seconds worldwide. The books have also inspired an obsessive fanbase, with one woman having her collection of Mr Men memorabilia collection insured for £35,000.
Michelle Martinez, of Waterlooville, Hampshire, owns more than 3,000 items including Mr Men chopsticks, tin openers, kitchen roll holders and lighters.
She even took her family on a holiday to Butlins just so she could have her photo taken with Mr Bump.