EXHIBIT 23.1(A)

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on
Form S-4 of White Mountains Insurance Group (Arizona), Inc., which contains the
proxy statement of White Mountains Insurance Group, Inc., of our report dated
January 26, 1999, except for the restatements and reclassifications section in
Note 2 as to which the date is August 4, 1999 with respect to the consolidated
financial statements of Financial Security Assurance Holdings, Ltd. and
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and for each of the three years
in the period ended December 31, 1998, our report dated February 2, 1999, except
for Note 17 as to which the date is February 24, 1999 with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Folksamerica Holding Company, Inc. and its
subsidiaries as of and for the year then ended December 31, 1998 and our report
dated February 14, 1997 with respect to the consolidated statements of
operations, changes in shareholder's equity and cash flows of Valley Group Inc.
and Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 1996.

                                            /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

September 23, 1999