Charles de Gaulle’s Hampstead home for sale for first time in 50 years as nuns who live there now plan move to Rome

The Grade II-listed London home where Charles de Gaulle lived in exile in the 1940s is for sale for £15 million.

Frognal House, an 18th-century three-storey brick villa in Hampstead, was home to the leader of the Free French forces — later the President of France — and his family from 1942 to 1944.

It's thought General de Gaulle's wife Yvonne kept chickens in the garden so that the couple's youngest daughter Anne could have fresh eggs.

More recently, the house has been used as a finishing school, student accommodation and a convent for the Sisters of St Dorothy.

The nuns, who have provided accomodation for international students in an adjoining building included in the sale, are relocating their convent to Rome — meaning Frognal House is now on the market for the first time in 50 years.

Sister Paula of the Sisters of St Dorothy said: “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.”

Along with the main house which has a ground-floor chapel, 17 bedrooms and a roof terrace, the purpose-built accommodation block also has 17 rooms.

Frognal House is for sale through joint agents Knight Frank and Bargets Estate Agents.

Emma Cleugh, Partner at Knight Frank described the home as "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure an incredibly rare property with a fascinating history."

Subject to planning permission, the property could be redeveloped for a range of uses — a private home being one of them. The submission deadline for offers was 12pm on Thursday 14 October; although the property is still on the market.