Greenway - Agatha Christie's Home near Torquay

Greenway is the holiday home that Agatha Christie bought in 1938 for £6,000. Located on the banks of The River Dart she referred to it as "The loveliest Place on Earth." It was not a place of work but a place to relax and escape the world of writing although the house did provide plenty of inspiration for her books. She had originally seen the house as a little girl when she had visited with her mother.

 

Agatha Christie's Greenway House

The house you see today is a handsome example of Gerorgian architecture with some later additions. The house is believed to be on the site of an earlier Tudor property. Visitors today get to see wonderful ground floor rooms containing some of the items collected by Agatha and her family.

These rooms include the sitting room where Agatha used to try out some of her latest stories on family members. The room also contains her grand piano which survived the bombing of her house in London during the Blitz

 

A highlight of the visit to Greenway is the library where Agatha spent many hours reading in research for her books and for her own pleasure. The library has a mural which dates from the time when the US Coastguard commandeered the house in World War 2 ahead of the D Day Landings. It shows the history of the unit during the war up to the point they arrived at Greenway itself.

 

Another highlight of a visit is Agatha's bedroom up on the first floor. The room has beautiful views over the River Dart and contains her bed and one of the treasures she brought back from the Middle East when on archaeological digs - The Baghdad Chest.

 

Greenway as Inspiration in Agatha Christie Stories.

In Five Little Pigs (1942) there are detailed descriptions of the foot path leading to the Battery overlooking the river as well as the Battery itself as this is where the murder occured and the movements around these in central to the plot.

In Towards Zero (1944) the location opposite the village of Dittisham divided by the river features heavily in the story.

In Dead Man's Folly (1956) multiple locations at Greenway are clearly included such as the boat house, the landing stage, greenhouse, tennis courts and the lodge.

 

 

Book your Agatha Christie self Catering Break direct with us.

Greenway is easily accessed from any of our Torquay self catering accommodation. The house is now owned by the National Trust and is open to the public throughout most of the year.

Click on the panels on this page for individual properties or click on the button below to see all of our self catering properties in Torquay.

Or, call on 0791 905 1066 or on 01803 292958

 

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