Wandering lonely as a cloud thinking about the perfect Christmas present for someone who has everything?

A unique opportunity has arisen to own a slice of literary history, and, should you be in the mood for sharing, a very different festive gesture.

The Grade II listed Calvert Bridge near Keswick, named after William Wordsworth’s school William Calvert, is to go up for auction next month with a starting price of just £1.

The bridge straddles the River Greta – the subject of one of the 18th Century poet’s most cherished works, “To the River Greta, near Keswick”.

And if that was not enough, a strip of nearby woodland and riverbank is also being thrown in as part of the online auction sale, which takes place on Wednesday, December 11.

While the starting price is low, Landwood Property Auctions, which is handling the sale, is expecting interest to be high (o'er vales and hills), and bids to come from around the world in the clamour to own a small corner of the Lake District.

James Ashworth, of Landwood Property Auctions, said he anticipates it will go for a little more than the price of a chocolate bar.

“It’s really hard to put a reserve on this kind of lot, but as it is so unique, we expect it to generate a huge amount of interest,” he said.

“The highest bidder will succeed - whether that’s £1 or thousands of pounds we just don’t know. It will all depend on the level of interest.

“Although we have had other historic properties in Cumbria that have gained a lot of interest, it is

very rare for us to have such a picturesque plot available, especially one with so much history

attached to it.

“This really could be the ultimate gift for the person who has everything. The prospect of owning such an historic site, potentially for less than the average office secret Santa budget, is sure to capture some imaginations at the very least.”

Manchester-based Landwood Property Auctions has carved something of a niche in unusual residential and commercial properties and growing on the back of the increasing popularity of online auctions.

The total value of UK property sold at online auctions in 2018 was £236 million.

To register an interest in the Calvert Bridge, woodland and riverside plots, visit the Landwood Property Auctions website.