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.