By Matt Blake One of Britain's most historic country mansions has gone on the market for a bargain £2.5 million. With its own minstrels' gallery, 18th century classical library and vast Italianate gardens, Apethorpe Hall has all the trappings of a palace fit for a king. But there is just one thing missing that no monarch could live without ... a throne of porcelain and a bath to match. The princely pile, near Oundle, Northamptonshire,  has no bathroom and carries a £100,000-a-year maintenance bill. Princely: With its own minstrels gallery, 18th century classical library and Italianate gardens, Apethorpe Hall has all the trappings of a mansion fit for a king
@highlight
Apethorpe Hall, near Oundle, Northamptonshire, was once a haunt of James I, Elizabeth I and Charles I
@highlight
It has a minstrels' gallery, 18th century classical library and Italianate gardens
@highlight
English Heritage have lavished millions on its restoration since buying it for £3m eight years ago
@highlight
James I himself is reputed to have enjoyed homosexual trysts in a secret bedroom after meeting 'sweetheart' courtier George Villiers at the hall
@highlight
Campaigners accuse Government of wasting millions of pounds of taxpayers money after selling at fraction of the price it paid
Apethorpe Hall
Apethorpe Hall
Apethorpe Hall
A spokesman for English Heritage said: 'Following many years of neglect and decay, @placeholder had fallen into a state of significant disrepair and was in danger of being lost forever.