Just look how this place has evolved: Ancestral Grade II listed home of famed botanist Charles Darwin is up for sale for £525,000

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A magnificent house which belonged to Charles Darwin's family for more than 250 years is on the market.

The historic Grade II listed Elston Hall, in Nottinghamshire, was the home of the Darwin family from 1680 until just before the Second World War when the estate was sold.

It is the birthplace of Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of naturalist Charles Darwin who came up with the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Elston Hall in Nottinghamshire, pictured, has been associated with Charles Darwin's family for more than 250 years 

The house was sold by the Darwin family in 1934 to cover death dues and was turned into a school for boys 

In 1980, the school was divided into ten individual two storey homes, one of which is up for sale for £525,000 

Erasmus Darwin was a famous intellectual in his own right - he founded the Lunar Society, a group of 18th century eminent thinkers, scientists and engineers which included Robert Boyle, Joseph Priestley and Benjamin Franklin.

The Darwin legacy still very much remains - the church across the road from Elston Hall contains several memorials to the Darwin family.

After the Darwins' sold the property because of death duties in 1934, Elston Hall was turned into a school for boys.

In 1980, it was divided up into 10 individual two storey homes. One of these homes has gone on the market for £525,000.

The four-bedroom home retains the period features from the original hall such as the original ceiling cornicing, working fireplaces and large sash windows.

The house is a Grade II listed building and has many of the original features from the original property 

Despite the house's historic origins, it has evolved with a modern bathroom with some stylish contemporary features 

The main bedroom has plenty of natural light from the large window as well as very attractive wooden floorboards

Charles Darwin, right, was a regular visitor to Elston Hall which was owned by his famed grandfather Erasmus Darwin, left

In the spectacular ballroom, one can imagine the many significant intellectual discussions which took place between Charles Darwin, a frequent visitor to the home, and his contemporaries.

The owner, who has lived there for almost 20 years, said: 'It is a beautiful place to live. You consider yourself custodians rather than it being completely yours - you are hoping to preserve it for future generations.

'We are only actually moving across the road. It's just with the size of the family we need more space.

'The house has fantastic views over the valley and the tree in the garden dates from the time of the French Revolution (1789).'

The Darwins' long association with Elston began in 1680 when William Darwin of Cleatham in North Lincolnshire married Anne Waring, the stepdaughter of George Lascelles of Elston.

She was the only daughter and heiress of Robert Waring of Wilford by his wife Anne, who married George Lascelles of Elston in 1666. George Lascelles died in 1680 leaving his Elston estates to his son, John Lascelles, who inherited the estate on his 21st birthday.

One of the advantages to the property are incredibly high ceilings  such as the one in the main living room, pictured 

A sun room at the rear of the house looks out towards the patio and gardens which date from the French Revolution 

Charles Darwin was believed to be a regular visitor to Elston Hall in Nottinghamshire where his grandfather Erasmus lived

The botanist Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury in 1809 and studied medicine at Edinburgh University.

After nearly 30 years of research, including voyages around South America, New Zealand, Australia and the Indian Ocean, he proposed his theory of evolution by natural selection - the 'survival of the fittest'.

He explained his ideas about evolution in a book called On the Origin of Species, which was published in 1859.

His theory was that individuals in a species show a wide range of variation because of differences in their genes.

Individuals with characteristics most suited to the environment are more likely to survive and reproduce and the genes that allow these individuals to be successful are passed to their offspring.

Today, Darwin is revered as one of the most significant thinkers in history, but at the time his theory sparked controversy as it conflicted with religious views that God had made all the animals and plants on Earth.

Tom De Ville, agent at Fine & Country Nottingham which is selling the home, said: 'The main significance of this property is that it's a chance to live in a beautiful building and own a piece of history.

'Homes like these are very rare and the buyers of these types of homes are quite unique as well.'