Richard Burton went from being a humble, stage-trained Welsh actor to an international movie star, and it was while he lived in a handsome house in London’s leafy Hampstead Village that he cemented his status as an Old Hollywood legend.
The late performer lived on Lyndhurst Road with his first wife, Sybil Christopher, between 1949 and 1956. The couple originally bought a one-bedroom, ground-floor apartment in the building and eventually purchased the remaining floors following Burton’s success. It was while in residence on Lyndhurst Road that he took on some of his most famous roles, including those in The Desert Rats, The Robe, and Alexander the Great.
It’s also where he lived when he first met Elizabeth Taylor in 1953. Burton and Taylor would not, however, get to know each other romantically until after they were reacquainted in the early 1960s on the set of the epic period drama Cleopatra. They would later and famously go on to marry—twice.
The London residence where Welsh actor Richard Burton once lived has hit the market
Grant Frazer
Fast-forward to today, and the Victorian residence is now on the market for £7.95 million (or roughly $9.8 million). A blue plaque near the front door commemorates Burton’s time in residency; the historic destination was unveiled in 2011 by fellow Welsh actor Michael Sheen.
“This Blue Plaque house is not only notable due to the provenance of its former famous resident, but it also represents a rare opportunity to purchase a magnificent family home situated in the heart of Hampstead and within easy walking distance of Hampstead Heath,” says Mark Pollack, co-founding director of Aston Chase, in a press release.
The primary suite has views of St Paul’s Cathedral
Grant Frazer
The abode, built by architect Henry Davidson, dates back to the 1860s. Altogether, the spread comprises a semi-detached dwelling with six bedrooms plus a separate self-contained two-bedroom garden apartment.
There are heaps of original period details throughout, like high ceilings, tall windows, marble fireplaces, and French doors. Other highlights include a top-floor penthouse studio, a 60-foot-long rear garden, and views of St. Paul’s Cathedral from the primary suite.
“It’s a rare find on one of Hampstead’s most sought-after tree-lined streets,” adds Knight Frank’s Katy Brookes, who’s co-listing the home.
Click here to see all the photos of Richard Burton’s house.
Grant Frazer
Source: Luxury - robbreport.com
