A Victorian mansion rumoured to have a secret cache of gold hidden within it has been put up for sale for £3.5 million.

As yet, no one who has owned Oak Hall has discovered any sign of the gold, said to have been stashed there by murdered gold mining millionaire Sir Harry Oakes.

But anyone who buys the sprawling property in rural East Sussex can lay claim to it - and have the chance of making their money back several times over.

The home in Broad Oak, near Heathfield, was one of Sir Harry's luxury retreats in England when he was not jetting round the world.

American-born Sir Harry was murdered in July 1943 at his home in Nassau in the Bahamas. He was clubbed to death before being set alight with petrol.

His brutal killing prompted a worldwide feeding frenzy in the media as his mysterious death implicated some of Nassau's rich and famous.

Sir Harry's killing, at a time when Allied forces were about to invade Italy, made front page news but the case still remains one of the great unsolved crime mysteries.

Oak Hall, formerly called Tottingworth Hall, was built in the late 19th Century by Francis Logie-Pirie, whose family had owned the land for years.

When Sir Harry bought the estate, set within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in the Thirties, he changed its name to Oak Hall, possibly in honour of himself.

The electric gate-guarded house enjoys panoramic views across Heathfield and includes five reception rooms, a walled terrace garden and fine tree specimens.

The magnificent central feature is the Great Hall leading to all reception rooms. It has oak panelled walls, parquet flooring, an oak staircase and brick fireplace.

Sir Harry's lavish garden parties at the mansion, sited on an ancient Roman camp, were the stuff of legend, and in 1939 King George VI knighted him in the Birthday Honours List.

Guests at his functions would include the cream of high society, such as Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson.

Sir Harry's wealth was colossal. He was Canada's richest citizen and was rumoured to have hidden gold at each of his addresses around the world.

In fact, at Oak Hall he installed a strongroom in the cellar. Now, the mansion is owned by Mark Sullivan, who intends to move to Devon with his family.

However, he said: "I have looked absolutely everywhere for gold that may have been stashed away but I haven't found a thing."

The sale is being handled by London-based FPD Savills, one of the leading real estate agents in the world and interest is said to be keen.