Heathwood
Located at 8 Wildwood Road(Hampstead Garden Suburb, London), Heathwood House, built in 1926, was a 5,092 square feet home, boasting six bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room and a sitting room, a large kitchen and breakfast room, gardens, a tennis court and servants' quarters. It was previously home to painter Augustus John, and some of his paintings remained in place when the Taylor family moved in. The previous home of the Taylors (before Elizabeth was born) was a nineteenth-century cottage at 11 Hampstead Way. However, although Sara and Francis had a nurse, cook and a driver, the house became cramped (with just two bedrooms) after the birth of Howard in 1929. A larger house -Heathwood- was bought nearby. Sara, Francis, and little Howard -along with the servants- moved into their new luxury home. Elizabeth was born here, and was raised here for the first few years of her life. To her they were happy years, and rightly so. The Taylor children were raised in luxury. Their parents would take them on trips across the countryside -along with the nursemaid and cook- with their dog, Monty. The children were expected to have the best of manners, and excellent behaviour.
Having been 'adopted' by two benefactors, the Taylors were able to live in many grand estates, including one of the benefactor's estate in Kent (where Elizabeth learned horse-riding).
Having been 'adopted' by two benefactors, the Taylors were able to live in many grand estates, including one of the benefactor's estate in Kent (where Elizabeth learned horse-riding).
From Heathwood to Beverly Hills!
The Taylors briefly resided in Pacific Palisades from December 1939 to Autumn 1941, then moved to Beverly Hills, at 703 North Elm Drive. Elizabeth would live there with her family for ten years, until her marriage to Conrad 'Nicky' Hilton when she would move into a five-room suite at the Hotel Bel Air. When they resided at Beverly Hills, Sara's ambition to make Elizabeth a star grew even more. Elizabeth was enrolled in singing and dancing lessons, and her riding lessons continued. Sara made an arrangement for a meeting with Hedda Hopper, leading gossip columnist. Though Hedda was not particularly impressed by Elizabeth's performance, she did mention her in her column, taking the credit for the 'new find' of 'eight-year old Elizabeth Taylor, whose mother was Sara Sothern, the lame girl in the play, The Fool, and whose father, Francis Taylor, has just opened an exhibition of paintings by Augustus John in the Beverly Hills Hotel.'
The Hotel Bel-Air
Aged eighteen, Elizabeth married Conrad Hilton, Jr. on May the 6th 1950. The couple moved into a five-bedroom suit in the Hotel Bel Air, where 'Nicky' was the manager. (Marilyn Monroe also lived here, during her marriage to Arthur Miller)
It was a short-lived marriage (see Biography) and after the two divorced, Elizabeth moved out into an apartment at 1060 Wilshire Boulevard in L.A., with actors Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis as neighbours.
It was a short-lived marriage (see Biography) and after the two divorced, Elizabeth moved out into an apartment at 1060 Wilshire Boulevard in L.A., with actors Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis as neighbours.