Wotton Lodge, 5 Weymouth Street, Warminster, was included among the properties sold by the Longleat Estate in September 1919 (about 100 houses, cottages, shops, pubs, farms and smallholdings – described at the time as the largest property sale ever held in Warminster).
The sale catalogue described it as follows:
“Lot 37. Wotton Lodge, 5 Weymouth Street. A commodious Private Residence, containing on ground floor, Dining Room, 20ft. 6in. x 18ft,; Drawing Room, 14ft. 10in. x 13ft., and w.c. On first floor, 2 Bedrooms, one measuring 23ft. x 20ft. 3in. On second floor, 2 Bedrooms, Bath Room (bath and geyser claimed by Tenant), w.c., and Housemaid’s Cupboard. On third floor, 5 small Bedrooms; and in the basement, Kitchen, Scullery, China Pantry, Larder, Coal-house, and Wine Cellar.
At the back is a large span Greenhouse, whilst beyond are two rooms. There is a Garden at side, and a large Coach-house or Garage, and two-stall Stable.
Now let to Mr. J.L. Foreman on a yearly Lady-Day tenancy, subject to six months’ notice to quit, at £40 per annum, the Tenant doing all repairs except to main walls and roofs.”
The sale of the 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 the solicitors for the vendor, the Marquess of Bath, K.G.
Wotton Lodge was put up for auction on the first day of the sale. It failed to reach its reserve price and was withdrawn, but was sold afterwards for £800 to the Warminster Club whose headquarters were next door.