St John’s Barn in Suffolk is being sold by Summers Place Auctions this year and is expected to fetch a six-figure sum. The barn was built in the 18th century but the framers who put it up are thought to have used some timber from earlier structures dating back to the Tudors.

Once it has been rebuilt, it will be about 51 ft long and 20 ft wide and will be 26 ft high. In total, the 300 pieces of timbers weigh 20 tonnes.

The owner, Nigel Warren-Thomas, 70, a chartered surveyor, bought them for a retirement project 20 years ago but never found the time. He thinks someone younger should embark on “the ultimate 3D puzzle”.

DIY enthusiasts should be aware that solving it would take a team of specialised carpenters. It would be virtually impossible for someone to do it themselves — although the barn comes with a detailed legend and every timber piece is marked.

Warren-Thomas, who used to work for a company “saving” historic barns, is also offering his team to reassemble the structure.

“It would cost between £10,000 and £14,000 to re-raise the frame,” he told The Times. “It wouldn’t take more than a week.”