HYDE Historic Resources Centre in Winchester has been put up for sale by the city council for millions of pounds.

The grade-two listed house and barn in Hyde Street have served as headquarters for the city's museum service and hosted a wide range of temporary exhibitions for more than 20 years.

Now the half-acre site is on the market for potential redevelopment into new homes or offices.

Museum staff are being re-located to the west wing of The Guildhall, while exhibitions will be held in a new gallery at Winchester Discovery Centre, in the revamped Jewry Street library, due to open in summer 2007.

A city council spokesman said: "We are consolidating our staff as much as possible on to the Guildhall site. We have taken over the lease of the west wing above the Guildhall Tavern that used to be leased by the NHS.

"Ultimately, we will have the opportunity for an exhibition space in a dedicated gallery in the discovery centre. All the items from the Guildhall gallery will be moved there."

Estate agents Knight Frank say there has been a lot of interest in the historic resources centre site currently being advertised as a "residential/commercial development opportunity."

The 16th century house is the former service wing of a mansion built by Richard Berthell, profiter from the dissolution of Hyde Abbey in 1539.

Land agent, William Oram, said he expected the site to sell for "millions."

The deadline for bids is December 8.