Nearly two decades before Herbert Hoover became the 31st President of the United States in 1929, he lived just outside London in a private residence that is now listed for £1.99 million (approximately $2.5 million). Ironically, the stately home was known as The White House.
In 1902, Hoover and his wife, Lou Henry Hoover, lived in this Georgian-style property in Surrey, England, while he worked for Bewick, Moreing & Co., a London-based mining firm. According to the listing by Knight Frank, Hoover wrote in his memoirs, “My wife searched out a small country house at Walton-on-Thames.” A footnote added, “Curiously, it was known as The White House.” Today, the house features a commemorative blue plaque on its front wall, marking it as the former home of the future U.S. president.
The approximately 3,000-square-foot home, located on the south bank of the River Thames, was last sold in 2009 for £1.08 million (about $1.3 million). For history and architecture enthusiasts, the property retains many original period details, including parapet walls, decorative bay windows, stately fireplaces, friezes, and even a bell tower on the roof.
Spanning two floors, the ground level includes an open-plan entrance hall and four reception spaces, such as drawing and dining rooms, which lead to a spacious outdoor garden. The bespoke Tomy Howley kitchen features marble countertops, gray cabinets, and brass hardware. Upstairs, the first floor houses four bedrooms, each with bay windows and fireplaces, including the main bedroom with its own bathroom.
“The White House offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of history,” says Matthew Scott, head of sales at Knight Frank’s Weybridge office. “Georgian houses in Elmbridge are rare, and the property’s historic significance has generated significant interest from both British and American buyers.
