Danny Howell writes:
No.48 Market Place, Warminster, 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 it as follows:
Lot 45.
48 Market Place, Warminster.
A stone-built Property with tiled roof, having good frontage to the Market Place, and consisting of double-fronted Shop, 22ft. 6in. x 19ft., with Office, Dining Room, Kitchen, Scullery with 2 coppers, Pantry, and Cellars.
On first floor, Drawing Room, 3 Bedrooms, Dressing Room, with w.c., and Boxroom; there is a bath and a geyser in one Bedroom claimed by the tenant. On second floor, 3 Bedrooms.
There are 2 outhouses, a two-stall Stable, Coach-house with Lofts over, and some Sheds, together with a good Garden.
The entrance to the Stable and Coach-house is over the Anchor Yard, and a right of way is reserved over the said Yard.
Let to Mr. W.H. Marshman on a half-yearly tenancy at £55 per annum.
Land tax, 19s. 5d. Tithe commuted at 5s. payable to Vicar.”
The auction sale of the these Longleat Estate 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.
No.48 Market Place, Warminster, was put up for auction on the first day of the sale. It was bought by the tenant, Mr. W.H. Marshman, for £800.
[No.48 Market Place has since been renumbered. It now [2023] has the address 45 Market Place, Warminster BA12 9AZ].