Concave mansion inspired by an Art Deco watch for sale on one of Britain’s most expensive streets
One of the UK’s most glamorous Art Deco homes with a design based on the inner workings of a trophy watch is back on the market with an £18 million price tag.
Hamstone House is on the St George’s Hill estate in Surrey – a repeat contender for Britain’s most expensive address and where residents have included Elton John, John Lennon and Tom Jones – set in eight acres of landscaped grounds and overlooking a private golf club.
It’s on South Ridge in Weybridge, Britain’s most expensive street outside London, where house prices were £7.1 million on average last year.
It was put up for sale for £16 million two years ago but has just been relisted with Knight Frank for £2 million more.
The striking circular house was built in 1937 for construction tycoon Peter Lind and his wife who sought a country home within easy reach of central London. It is now Grade II-listed thanks to its unique concave architecture.
With its curved and segmented façade, the property is designed to resemble the inner workings of the 1931 Reverso wristwatch, made by Swiss company Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The Linds’ son-in-law was part of the watchmaking Jaeger dynasty with links to Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Fans of the Art Deco watches have included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Charlie Chaplin and the Queen, who wore one at her coronation in 1953.
In 1943 Lind, who designed the floating concrete structures called Mulberry Harbour Phoenix Caissons used in the D-Day landings, hosted a meeting at Hamstone House for Winston Churchill and members of his wartime Cabinet.
The second of only three owners to date, a Saudi prince bought Hamstone House in 1984 and embarked on a renovation thought to have cost over £2 million.
As well as restoring the Art Deco interior features, works included installing an 8ft Venetian glass chandelier and converting the bomb shelter into a games room.
Hamstone House’s current owners have completely refurbished the property in their two decades of ownership: laying English oak flooring throughout reception rooms; installing family and catering kitchens; constructing an indoor swimming pool complex and, more recently, an outdoor tennis court.
There are five bedrooms suites in the main house, with an additional three in a separate gatehouse included in the sale.
Other suitably glamorous features include a plunge pool, billiard room, the Venetian glass chandelier and bespoke Lalique light fittings.
While the interiors style “may not be for everyone”, said Stuart Cole, a partner at Knight Frank, “The property is one of kind.”
“Hamstone House is not comparable to the rest of St George’s Hill, because it’s the largest site on the estate, has a formidable gate/staff house, and its privacy and variety of grounds completely set it apart from all other properties.
“The property market has moved on so much since Hamstone House was first launched in 2020 — much of the existing stock in the area sold in the latter part of last year, leaving very little available on the market — and the new price reflects this market.”
There are more than 420 homes on the exclusive estate, where access is monitored by uniformed security, number plate recognition and automated security tag barriers.
