On the 19th and 20th September, 1865 the auction comprising 169 lots took place at Ryde Town Hall. It was conducted by Messrs Driver of London. Lot 1 was the ground rent of the houses on both sides of the Strand; Cleveland Lodge, Dover House, etc., Lot 40A was Sturbridge House in 14 acres built by Mr. Robert Yelf on the site of a cottage known as Little Appley (it has now reverted to its former name of Little Appley), Lot 74 and 75 were Troublefield Farm and Lot 70, with just 16 to 20 acres of its former 313 left, was St. John's House. The house was sold to H. Thomspon, Esq., later to be Sir Henry, for £12,900 and the sale was completed on 7th March, 1866. It seems he may have bought the house as an investment as there is no record of his living there, indeed the house was empty for a time.