White Hall, named after the beautiful coral stone with which it was made, was the largest of the six private residences of the Magnificent Seven mansions in Port of Spain. Construction of this majestic structure began in 1904, featuring a Palladian style with origins in classic Greek, Roman and Moorish architecture. Interestingly, the White Hall served as the Headquarters for the US Military during World War II until 1944. It also served as the Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1959 to 1988 and from 1999 to 2008. It was officially reopened in August 2019.
One of the Magnificent Seven, White Hall, originally called Rosenweg, the largest of the private homes on Maraval Road, was built in 1904 by Joseph Leon Agostini, a cocoa planter. Construction commenced in 1904 in accordance with Mr. Agostini’s own design, influenced by a Moorish Mediterranean style and reminiscent of the architecture of Corsica from where the Agostini family originated. Construction took three years.
After J.L Agostini’s death in 1906 his family remained in residence until 1910. As they were unable to meet mortgage payments, the mortgagee, William Gordon Grant, foreclosed. The property was then sold to Mr. Robert Henderson, an American businessman from Venezuela. During his ownership, a delightful variety in the furnishings of the interior was added to the refined dignity of the exterior. The Henderson family renamed it White Hall after the coral stone from which it as built.
During the Second World War, with the arrival of the United States Forces to Trinidad, White Hall was commandeered from the Seigert family, heirs of Robert Henderson, as headquarters of the Air Raid Precaution. In 1944, the British Council rented the building as a cultural centre. Later, the Trinidad Central Library, Regional Library, National Archives, Government Broadcasting Unit, Trinidad Art Society and the Cellar Club all occupied space in the building. From 1949, the building remained empty until 1954, when it was purchased by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
In 1957 Whitehall was occupied by the Pre-Federal Interim Government prior to the establishment of the West Indies Federation. However, when the Federation failed to be established, the house remained unoccupied for some time. In 1963, after Independence, it became the Office of the Prime Minister occupied by the Hon. Dr. Eric Williams, Trinidad and Tobago’s first Prime Minister Restored in 2000, Whitehall continued to be occupied by the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago until 2009, when its state of dilapidation forced the Office to evacuate.
A Major restoration commenced in 2016 with the designers carefully integrating modern conveniences without compromising the interior or exterior finishes. In fact, the very elaborate ceilings, the intricate staircase, the original doors and moldings and floors were all carefully refurbished to make this heritage house the most elaborate of the seven mansions. The former stables that had been refurbished to become offices were now repurposed into a security access point utilizing the back trace as a public access from the official car park to the west of Killarney. The House was re occupied by the Prime Minister’s office in August 2019.
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