Friday 5th September 1919
The Anchor Inn was included among the properties sold by the Longleat Estate in September 1919 (about 100 houses, cottages, shops, pubs, farms and smallholdings – described as the largest property sale ever held in Warminster).
The Sale Catalogue described the Anchor as follows:
“Lot No.46. The Anchor Inn.
A fully-licensed House of good appearance, faced with stone with slate and tiled roof, and occupying a prominent position in the Market Place, and containing 3 Bars, with separate entrances; Living Room, Store or Taproom, large Kitchen with range, Scullery with 2 coppers and sink. On first floor, Club Room, 27 ft. x 17 ft. 9 in.; 3 Bedrooms and w.c. On second floor, 6 Bedrooms and Box Room. Good Cellars.
There is a good sized Yard with Trap Shed, 2 w.c.’s, Stabling for about 12 horses, 2 Garages or Coach-houses with loft over all. Large and productive Garden with entrance to the Avenue, and Greenhouse.
The Inn, Yard and Garden are now let to Usher’s Wiltshire Breweries Ltd., on Lease expiring Michaelmas, 1920, at £70 per annum, and the lofts are let to Mr. W. H. Marshman together with a brick and slated detached building at end of yard on quarterly tenancy at £10 per annum.
A right of way over the yard with or without carts, horses, waggons, and motor vehicles is reserved for the owner and occupier of No.48 Market Place.
Right of way reserved over yard to premises No.50 Market Place, held by the International Tea Company’s Stores.
Land Tax, £1 9s. 9d., paid by Lessees.”
The sale of the Longleat properties was spread over two days, Friday 5th September and Saturday 6th September 1919, at the Town Hall, Warminster. The auctioneer was David Waddington of Messrs. D. and D.H. Waddington, and Messrs. Ponting & Marshall were solicitors for the vendor, the Marquess of Bath, K.G.
The Anchor Inn was put up for auction on the first day of the sale. It was bought by Messrs. Lovibond, of Salisbury, for £1,850.