Possible Clues:

• Men and their English homes?
• Chess rooks
• Moves involving kings and their traditional homes?
• Don't build the chess pieces in the air
• Keeps the actors left, with half of fees
• Large and stately mansions
• The TIme built them from ice cream
• Do they keep rooks on board? (7)
• Buildings built on sand?
• Players given the French pieces for chess board