The Northampton board had its official launch last week.

But excited players who snapped up the first copies found the £100 Delapre Abbey square contained a picture of Fawsley Hall, which is near Daventry, instead of the 864-year-old Northampton landmark.

The mistake was spotted just hours before the company was due to start a second print run of the board, which is already selling well in the shops.

A spokesman for the game's makers said: "We've become aware of an unfortunate mix-up, which we're looking into as we speak.

"We'll be correcting it immediately for the next print run which will now take place in a few days time."

The mistake has led to speculation the boards containing the mistake could one day become collectors' items.

The chairman of the Friends of Delapre Abbey, Graham Walker, said: "It's a real shame this has happened.

"There can only be a few people in Northampton who don't know what Delapre Abbey looks like.

"But I would imagine it would be worth buying one of the early boards now, they might become quite rare."

It is not known how the photographic mix-up happened, but the board clearly shows the 16th century Fawsley Hall building sandwiched between Guildhall Road and Holy Sepulchre Church, instead of the 12th century Delapre Abbey.

Fawsley Hall's general manager Brian Garside said: "As far as I know, I don't think they ever contacted us to be on the board. So I'm sort of speechless, because I wasn't aware of this at all.

"The Monopoly board is obviously a great thing to be associated with, but I suppose it's just a shame it's our picture and Delapre Abbey's name."

The game is currently on sale at shops across Northampton for a recommended price of £25.