Chipps Farm House, pictured in 1947, when it was Lot No.56 in the auction sale of a large portion of the Longleat Estate. The auction, held at the Grand Cinema, Frome, on Thursday and Friday, 24th and 25th July 1947, was under instructions from Henry Frederick Thynne, the 6th Marquess of Bath, solely for the purpose of paying Death Duties of £700,000. The auction comprised 5,400 acres of land, 20 farms, 23 smallholdings, 3 public houses, 130 cottages, as well as shops and a brickyard, situate in Wiltshire and Somerset. Cooper & Tanner Ltd., were the auctioneers.
In the sale catalogue, Chipps Farm House was described as “stone and brick built, slated and tiled.” The ground floor included a small entrance lobby; a sitting room; a living room; a pantry for china; a back lobby; and a scullery with a back entrance to a lean-to milk-house built of wood and galvanised iron. The first floor comprised a landing and three bedrooms. Water, electricity, and telephone, were all laid on. The farm buildings included cart shed, harness room, cow stalls, loose box and cattle yard. There was also a farm worker’s cottage. Chipps Farm had 81 acres of land. The house and holding had been let to on a yearly Michaelmas tenancy to Mr. R.J. Stradling, at £270 per annum.