Plaque

Charles de Gaulle - NW3

Inscription

Charles de Gaulle, 1890 - 1970, soldier, statesman and political reformer, general and leader of the Free French Forces during the war against Hitler, first President of the Fifth Republic of France, lived in this house.
Erected by the Hampstead Plaque Fund.

De Gaulle lived here with his family, September 1942-44 (though these dates vary slightly depending on source).

See Musee de la Resistance for more information on this plaque (in French).

Site: Charles de Gaulle - NW3 (1 memorial)

NW3, Frognal, 99, St Dorothy's Convent, Frognal House

The plaque is not visible in our photo of the house; it's barely visible from the street. On the side of the house, it can be seen by peering over the top of the wall to the very right of our photo.

2017: We were contacted by Chris Kitching who is writing a book about Walter Rye, the athlete and antiquary, who lived at Frognal House 1891-9. His book (due end of this year or beginning of next) has a short section about the house.

2024: The CNJ have a very informative article about this house, prompted by a planning application (basement swimming pool, sauna, etc.). As is usual with houses of this importance a detailed historical study has been carried out, which the paper reports on. In brief: built on the site of an earlier dwelling in 1740 and the Catholic Kelly family lived there from the early 1800s for 50 years.

In 1853 until at least 1881 it was used by John Rowe, an “instructor of invalid pupils”. Rowe also ran the Sailors’ Orphan Girls’ School and Home. 1933 it was bought by Irish publisher Brian McPeake who added a new staircase and a roof-top sun room. 1942 Charles de Gaulle and his family moved in. McPeake and his family returned in 1946 but sold the house in the late 1960s to the Sisters of St Dorothy.

The building was last sold in 2021 and that's when a new plaque was added, which we have yet to collect.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Charles de Gaulle - NW3

Subjects commemorated i

World War 2

Sorry, we've done no research on WW2, it's just too big a subject. But do vis...

Read More

Free French Forces

Formed, in concept at least, on 18 June 1940 in de Gaulle's 'Appeal of 18 Jun...

Read More

Charles de Gaulle

Born Lille, France. Height 6 ft, 5 inches, nicknamed Le Grande Asperge. Presi...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Charles de Gaulle - NW3

Created by i

Heath & (Old) Hampstead Society / Hampstead Plaque Fund

The Hampstead Plaque fund was set up, many years ago, by Ralph Wade and has b...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Rik Mayall 2

Rik Mayall 2

W6, Hammersmith Broadway, Junction with Queen Caroline Street

The wording of the plaque is a group effort. 'The man, the myth the legend was suggested by his daughter Bonnie. 'Pan global phenomenon' ...

1 subject commemorated
Moorfields Eye Hospital - opened

Moorfields Eye Hospital - opened

N1, City Road

The Duke and Duchess of York went on to become King George V and Queen Mary.

3 subjects commemorated
Herbert Walker

Herbert Walker

SE1, Waterloo Station

This plaque is at the entrance to the British Transport Police. We guess these used to be offices used by Walker.

1 subject commemorated
London Wall Walk - 2 - Trinity Place

London Wall Walk - 2 - Trinity Place

EC3, Trinity Place

To the right of our picture there is a section of London Wall with a modern information board sticking out of the ground. We much prefer ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Tothill Fields Gate

Tothill Fields Gate

SW1, Little Sanctuary

IanVisits posted about this gate and included a map showing where the Bridewell used to be.

1 subject commemorated

Previously viewed

Tony Nind

Tony Nind

Anthony Michael Nind was born on 2 January 1957, the second child of Albert E. Nind (b.1929) and Doris Lilian Nind née Pantry (b.1930). His birth was registered in the Islington registration distri...

Person, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Royal Regiment of Artillery

Royal Regiment of Artillery

Better known as the Royal Artillery. By royal warrant of King George I, two companies, each 100 men strong were raised at Woolwich. It now comprises twelve regiments, plus four regiments of the Roy...

Group, Armed Forces

4 memorials
Hitchcock mosaics 02 - Hitchcock and Dietrich

Hitchcock mosaics 02 - Hitchcock and Dietrich

E11, Church Lane, Leytonstone tube station

6 artists/craftspeople and 5 organisations are named as creating this Gallery of 17 murals. Rather than repeat this information on all 17...

1 subject commemorated
Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association

Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association

Started by Samuel Gurney MP and the barrister, Edward Thomas Wakefield. Founded as the Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountain Association it changed its name to include cattle troughs in 1867.  London...

Group, Benefactor, Animals, Food & Drink

38 memorials
James Ogilvy-Webb

James Ogilvy-Webb

Chairman of the Islington Society, 1966 - 1985.

Person, Community / Clubs, Politics & Administration

1 memorial