Philipps House

The house is one of the first in England to have a central heating system installed, which was achieved by pumping hot air from a boiler in the basement into the stairwell.

[11][12][13] During World War II, the park in front of Philipps House was requisitioned for use by the United States Army Air Force, who erected a number of Nissen huts there.

During their occupation the house was predominantly used as an artists' retreat, providing residential art courses for amateur and semi-professional painters.

The lease transferred the cost of maintaining the structure of the house and other amenities from the National Trust to the YWCA at a time when many major works were due, such as laying new pipes from the neighbouring village of Dinton.

[citation needed] After the YWCA left, the National Trust carried out a refurbishment of the house, which was leased to a tenant family.