The Hoo, Willingdon and Jevington

The Hoo is an Neoclassical country house in Willingdon, in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. It was designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1902 for Alexander Wedderburn, a wealthy lawyer. Considered one of Lutyens' best houses, it is a Grade I listed building. The gardens, which had input from Gertrude Jekyll, are designated at Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.

History and description
Alexander Wedderburn commissioned Edwin Lutyens to undertake a re-modelling of his existing house at Willingdon on the South Downs in 1901. The result was among Lutyens' favourite works, and is considered among his best country houses. After post-war service as a girls' school, the house was converted to apartments in 1955. The building remains privately owned and was the subject of a sympathetic restoration in 2022.

The core of the current house remains Wedderburn's original cottage. To this, Lutyens added a gable roof with dormer windows, while to each side he constructed large wings. There are examples of the neo-Georgian styling which was to become one of Lutyens' major architectural themes.

The original planting scheme for the gardens, which were designed in a formal style, was undertaken by Gertrude Jekyll. Some modifications have been made since, and some of the outlying parts have succumbed to residential development.

The Hoo is a Grade I listed building and its gardens are listed at Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.