Charles de Gaulle’s Former London Home Lists for the First Time in Over 50 Years

September 7, 2021

Anne Giordano,

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Photographs courtesy of The Sisters of St Dorothy
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Photographs courtesy of The Sisters of St Dorothy
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Photographs courtesy of The Sisters of St Dorothy
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Photographs courtesy of The Sisters of St Dorothy
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Photographs courtesy of The Sisters of St Dorothy
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Photographs courtesy of The Sisters of St Dorothy
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Photographs courtesy of The Sisters of St Dorothy
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Photographs courtesy of The Sisters of St Dorothy

Historic properties, and celebrity properties for that matter, are aplenty in London. But Frognal House in the Hempstead neighborhood has an especially intriguing past. Charles de Gaulle and his family moved into this Grade II London home from 1942 to 1944 while in exile after the Germans took over France. De Gaulle was the leader of Free France during WWII and went on to become France’s president in the 1950s and 1960s. Meanwhile, this mansion built in the mid-1700s had a journey ahead of it as well.

The home has not been for sale in over half a century and is now listed for £15 million. It is currently owned not by some billionaire or mysterious celeb, but by the Sisters of St. Dorothy. Long their convent, the Sisters have lived here while also hosting international students who need accommodation. Measuring in at 13,147 square feet, there is ample space to spread out across, including a chapel.

Sister Paula of the Sisters of St. Dorothy shares, “We have been incredibly happy here in our home for more than 50 years and will be sad to leave but look forward to joining our Sisters in Rome for a new and exciting future.”

The Sisters are indeed relocating, which means someone new can own this historically significant manse. A new owner can reconfigure it for their own needs, all while retaining grand internal and external period features. From marble inset fireplaces to cast-iron balconies, the details are endless.