Local landmark: former Johnson family home, the legendary 'Rocking Horse House' in Primrose Hill, for sale for £11.25m

Boris Johnson's father, Stanley Johnson, wrote four of his books in the iconic London home, while various owners have reported receiving postcards from across the globe addressed to the rocking horse that could be once seen sitting in the window.
1/40

One of Primrose Hill’s most famous homes, the legendary pink ‘Rocking Horse House’ which was the family home of Boris and Rachel Johnson’s father, the writer Stanley Johnson, is for sale complete with a deep-red decorated basement cinema with feature disco balls.

An urban legend exists that suggests that the owner of the home is required to keep a rocking horse in the front bay window, which was debunked by a more recent owner, despite the tradition being upheld for decades.

Stanley Johnson bought the four-bedroom Georgian townhouse in 1994 following stints in Brussels and Oxford working for the European Commission and lived there for 10 years with his second wife, Jenny, and two youngest children, Julia and Max.

Although he never lived there himself, the house served as the base for Boris Johnson’s successful London mayoral race in 2008.

The Johnsons had previously lived in Primrose Hill in the Seventies, when Boris Johnson and siblings had attended the local state primary school with Ed and David Milliband.

Boris and Stanley Johnson

Stanley Johnson has said that on his return to London he went back to the area because St John’s Wood and Notting Hill were too expensive.

The house had belonged to screenwriter Lukas Heller, who wrote Hollywood movies including the Bette Davis-Joan Crawford classic, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, and much of his 1960s decoration was in tact.

The previous owners had taken their rocking horse with them so, after several people had knocked on the door enquiring where it had gone, the family bought their own, which they named Tarquin.

However, Amanda Brewer, who bought the house from Stanley Johnson, debunked the myth about owners being required to keep a rocking horse in the window in a letter to the Camden New Journal, saying it is “simply not true”.

“Owners of The Rocking Horse House must, however, be prepared to receive Valentine’s and Christmas cards for a Mr R.O.C. King-Horse (postmarked Leicester, always signed “your admirers” ), postcards from Japan and the occasional tourist taking a photograph!” she said when selling the house in 2010.

Specially commissioned: the rocking horse lives on in the new bay window

The decades-long tradition was ended by the current owner. However, Orly Lehmann, partner and head of Knight Frank’s Belsize Park office says the rocking horse is gone but not forgotten, “having been etched into the specially commissioned front bay window from which there are views directly over Primrose Hill Park”.

Since its most recent sale in 2010, the 1820s house has been subject to an extensive renovation and now boasts several luxurious modern features, including a new deep-red decorated basement cinema with feature disco balls, a gym and guest bedroom and bathroom.

There is a state-of-the-art kitchen on the ground floor with chocolate-coloured marble worktops and olive-green walls, leading to a wine cellar.

Disco decor: the deep-red cinema room

An open-plan dining and family room houses a 12-person dining table, feature chandelier and floor-to-ceiling glass doors overlooking the landscaped garden.

There is also a formal reception room with parquet flooring and the original fireplace. The study area on the same floor is where Stanley Johnson wrote four of his books.

The three upstairs bedrooms all overlook Primrose Hill and have en suite bathrooms.

The house is on the market for £11.25 million through Aston Chase and Knight Frank.