The White House is an imposing grade 2 listed building on the seafront in Milford on Sea. Over the years this site has had a colourful history before becoming the private homes we know today.
The White House was originally built in 1902 as a summer seaside residence for the Walker-Munro family. They were colliery millionaires who also owned Rhinefield House and Estate in the New Forest.
Later, from 1938, The White House become a hospital, specifically for adult male tuberculosis (TB).
At the beginning of WW2, the building was requisitioned by the War Office for military use.
After the war, the hospital reopened for adult male TB sufferers until the NHS took it over in 1948.
Three years later, it became one of the first hospitals to cater specifically for child TB sufferers and ran as a children's hospital for TB until 1983.
The building then fell into disrepair, until in 1999, when Colten Developments Ltd completed a full restoration and conversion into private homes.
To see pictures of when The White House was a hospital, plus some photos of patients from the time, please click here.
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The White House in WW2
At the outbreak of the Second World War, The White House was soon requisitioned by the British Army for military use.
In 1944, the famous Milford on Sea marine artist, Montague Dawson RSMA, FRSA, who was also an official WW2 artist, captured on canvas the 24th Lancers in the Grounds of the White House. Today his original paintings sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Montague Dawson would have been very familiar with the scene, as his house was almost opposite on the seafront at 1 Hurst Road, Milford on Sea. He had moved into the brand new house in 1937, where he created a painting studio in the back garden. This was to remain the artist's home for the rest of his life and today the white walls of the property display a commemorative plaque.
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| Pill Box War Defences next to The White House |
Interestingly, it appears that in the photo above, there were two pill boxes near to The White House. However, only the smaller one closer to The White House now remains. You can read more by clicking here.
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Patient Memories of The White House
In October 2010, we were contacted by Geoff Merritt, who shared his fascinating memories of being a patient at The White House whilst suffering from TB as a child.
You can read the article 'Geoff's White House Memories' by clicking here.
Then in September 2011, we heard from Gary McCormick, who had been a patient at The White House. He had stayed for two years around 1958, and he was also joined by both his brother Clive, and his sister Jane, all were suffering from TB.
At that time, The White House was a sanatorium (although everyone referred to it as a hospital) for children only and treated TB, Asthma, and other bad chest infections.
You can read the article 'Gary’s Memories of the White House' by clicking here.
This was followed in October 2012, when Sharon Wickham got in touch to let us know about her mum Carole Hobson, and her mum's cousin John Neale, were both patients in The White House in the early 1950's. You can read the 's' article by clicking her.
You can read the 'The White House in the 1950's' article by clicking here.
Paul commented, "I spent nearly 2 years at the imposing White House Hospital when a child suffering from tuberculosis in the early 1960s. Visited it recently for the first time in 60 plus years. Brought back so many memories."
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National Heritage List
The White House is listed on the National Heritage List for England. The entry is made as: 'The White House Hospital (Including Flanking Wings), Hurst Road'.
To view the entry on the Historic England website, please click here.
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To view the photo album 'Milford on Sea: The White House Memories',
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You can read more details about the fascinating history of The White House after enjoying some of the old photos we have shared below.
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The White House History
written by Milford on Sea Historical Record Society
The White House was built in Milford on Sea by Mr. and Mrs Walker Munro whose wealth came from the Walker side of the family which had become rich through coal. Before being Nationalised the coal mines in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, were originally owned by the Barber and Walker families.
There have been various buildings on the site of the present Rhinefield House since the time of William the Conqueror and in 1877, many of the Crown Lands were “privatised” and Rhinefield House passed to the Walker family.
In 1885 the only daughter of the Walker family became engaged to Lieutenant Munro RN, and her father´s engagement present was £250,000 [approx. £30M in 2018] with which to build a family home at Rhinefield The original house at Rhinefield was pulled down to make way for construction of the present property and after their marriage in 1887 the couple adopted the name Walker-Munro and supervised the construction of an impressive countryseat comprising the Great House, a hunting lodge, stables, gardener´s bothy and a gate lodge. Reputedly building Rhinefield House did not use up all of the money, and they purchased about 6 acres of land from the Cornwallis West estate and in 1903 built a ‘modest seaside summer residence’.
It was described as a "Modest Beach Hut" standing in six acres, completed in 1903, literally within a stone’s throw of Milford on Sea beach. The house has a nautical theme being in the shape of the bridge of an ocean liner with a galleon weather vane, ships bridge, a room at the top with stunning views, porthole windows and a lighthouse turret housing a staircase. There were his and hers changing pavilions at the seaward end of colonnades enclosing the courtyard and a dinghy hanging in davits over the wall.
The Walker Munros only stayed there for one month each year apparently with all 45 of their servants. Lieutenant Commander Walker-Munro died in 1923 and his wife in 1934. The estate passed to their son, Major Walker Munro, who had emigrated to Kenya, and he sold The White House in 1938.
The purchasers were Middlesex County Council who, at first, used it as a convalescent home for women tuberculosis patients. At the outbreak of WWII, the house was requisitioned for military use and after the war it reopened for male TB sufferers and the NHS took it over in 1948.
Three years later it became one of the first hospitals to cater specifically for child TB sufferers. From 1963, with TB virtually eradicated, it became a school for those with special needs before falling into disuse by 1983 as it was too expensive to upkeep. Squatters and drug addicts moved in, vandalizing and removing the tiles and generally leaving it in a sorry state.
Although several schemes for redevelopment were proposed, no work was undertaken and the buildings fell into severe disrepair and there are newspaper reports from 1993 about the possible demolition of the White House. The site was bought by Colten Developments Ltd. in 1997, for £950K, and the house converted into 14 apartments in the old house with 2 lodges and 2 separate bungalows on the seafront.
I worked there in the 1970s as a cleaner. It was my first job. I cycled from Lymington every day — later I got a moped and eventually a car.
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