A Slice of England in Beverly Hills
“Victorian architecture in the United States was copied straight from England.” – Stephen Gardiner
Today I decided to make a short afternoon trip to a slice of England in Beverly Hills. Greystone Mansion was originally built for a princely sum of $3.1 Million in 1928 by oil tycoon Edward Doheny for his son Edward “Ned” Doheny Jr.
Subsequently it was added to the National Register of Historic Places after its purchase by the city of Beverly Hills in 1965. In today’s age of increasing inflation its free to visit. The gardens are open every day and the interior is open to visitors only on the first weekend of every month.
As I entered the fairly large visitor parking lot, I saw the gardens were laid out on multiple levels with benches placed at strategic levels encouraging visitors to enjoy the quiet and breathe in the scents of the flowers and plants blooming all around.
As I wound my way downwards, I was reminded that what goes down must come up especially as I passed a lady making her way up the stairs huffing and puffing a little bit.
I felt a sense of mystery and melancholy since the day was a bit dark and brooding.
Interesting statuary and fountains abounded on multiple levels.
The 55 room, 46,000 square foot manor would fit right into the English countryside posing as the country estate of an English peer.
Surprisingly for a weekday there were a lot of people wandering the property as well as a group of tourists with a guide posing for photos here by the Lily pond.
Making my way through the grounds I came across the Lotus Pool with the entire property overlooking Downtown Los Angeles. West Wood and Santa Monica depending on which way you looked.
The interior of the mansion of course was not open today, but people did walk up to the glass paned doors peeking inside and marveling at all the architectural details of the property designed by Gordon Kaufman.
The property has been used in movies and can be rented for parties and weddings.
Other areas of the property looked out over the other homes in the Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills. The Palm trees of course are a dead giveaway that I was only faking it in imagining that I was in England.
While there are many fountains on multiple levels in the gardens, this was the only one that actually had water in it. I could imagine gentlemen in evening dresses and ladies in their beautiful gowns fluttering their fans as they perambulated.
or took a load of their feet as they enjoyed a brief conversation in the various nooks scattered around.
With its yew hedges and white roses blooming, it’s so easy to pretend that I am actually traveling to a faraway destination even though I might only be a half hour from home.
The entrance gates on Doheny which are not open to the public. I don’t think this driveway was ever used by horse carriages, but can you imagine a gentleman in his phaeton smartly cracking the whip as the tools up the driveway to the main entrance?
I so love traveling in foreign lands, but I am enjoying this brief sojourn discovering hidden secrets closer to home far off the beaten path.