Melrose, 5 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 32. Melrose, or 5 High Street. A commodious dwelling-house on the main street, now used as a Boarding House. Brick and stone built, with cement front and tiled roof, containing on ground floor, Sitting Room, 17ft. 6in. x 16ft. 4in.; Dining Room, 15ft. 6in. x 15ft. 3in.; small Sitting Room, bath (h. and c.), large kitchen and scullery, and a large room, 17ft. x 15ft. On first floor are 10 Bedrooms and w.c., and there are 3 attics.
At the back is a courtyard with big range of Outbuildings, including Garage or Coach-house. There is a Summer House, a small Lawn, and a large Kitchen Garden at the rear, whilst at the side is a roadway to yard and garden.
Now let to Mr. W.J. Lapham on a quarterly tenancy at £60 per annum. Land Tax, 15s. 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.
Melrose was put up for auction on the first day of the sale. It was purchased for £800 by Mr. Cornelius.