THE family home of celebrated English poet Rudyard Kipling is being auctioned off - with bidding starting at £285,000.

The Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, which is in need of renovation, is located on the edge of Bewdley’s historic town centre. 

According to agents Eden Midcalf, the historic 7 Lower Park was occupied by George and Hannah Macdonald, the parents of the famous Macdonald sisters, Louisa, Alice, Agnes and Georgiana, who recently featured in an exhibition in the Bewdley museum. 

Alice was mother to Rudyard Kipling, Georgiana married the Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones, Louisa was the mother of Bewdley’s own three-time Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, and Agnes married Edward Poynter, artist and President of the Royal Academy.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The garden of 7 Lower ParkThe garden of 7 Lower Park

The Rudyards occupied the home in 1868, where Rudyard was left behind at the home to be looked at by his grandparents whilst Alice was in London for several months.

Rudyard Kipling is best known for writing The Jungle Book and seminal poem If. 

The home has five double bedrooms, two reception rooms, a large garden, and scope for extension. 

Bidding for the property closes at 2pm on Thursday, March 10 and is available to view on Rightmove. 

The listing said: "This is a rare opportunity to purchase a fabulous and historic building with such incredible potential to turn into an amazing family home."