38 High 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 33. 38 High Street, Warminster. A double-fronted shop with a frontage of 15ft. to High Street, return frontage to North Row, from which access is obtained to the domestic part of the premises.
The building contains Shop, Sitting Room and Kitchen, whilst above are Drawing Room, Bath Room (fittings claimed by Tenant), Bedroom and w.c., and on second floor, 4 Bedrooms.
There is a good double-floored store in North Row.
Let to Mr. R.L. Osmond on a quarterly tenancy at £30 per annum. Land Tax, 9s. 11d.”
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.
No.38 High Street was put up for auction on the first day of the sale. Mr. R.L. Osmond, the tenant, purchased it for £530.