Thursday, March 14, 2019

Agatha Christie's Holiday Home, Greenway



Do you like Agatha Christie novels?  Do you enjoy her famous writings of mystery and intrigue of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple?  If you do, you may want to visit with us today as we drive to her holiday home, Greenway, located in Torquay, Devon, England.  We have our parking place reserved and are excited to share this beloved holiday home of Agatha Christie and her family.  Come along with us as we travel to Greenway.



Greenway is tucked in an area that is charming and residential.  The home is set in a lovely location by the Dart estuary. 


Today we are traveling by car, but you can come to Greenway by steam train or ferry.  Wouldn't that be fun?


We have our Royal Oak cards and are welcome to tour.  I've mentioned before how wonderful Royal Oak membership is if you are a US citizen and wish to tour National Trust sites!


The view toward the Dart estuary is so peaceful and serene.  I can see why Agatha Christie loved this property.  We can have a seat in one of their chairs for a while or we can go inside. 


Let's go inside.


Agatha Christie was known by her married name, Mrs. Mallowan, locally.  She wanted this place to be a retreat for her and her family away from public eye.

"One day we saw that a house was for sale that I had known when I was young...So we went over to Greenway, and very beautiful the house and grounds were.  A white Georgian house of 1780 or 90, with woods sweeping down to the Dart below, and a lot of fine shrubs and trees-an ideal house, a dream house."  Agatha Christie


Stepping inside one can clearly see opulence, but a coziness that is very lovely.


Agatha and her second husband, Max Mallowan, made changes to the home to make it their own.  They were collectors of many items including archaeology, Tunbridgeware, silver, botanical china, and books.






 Agatha Christie is known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short stories revolving around Hercule Poirot.  She also wrote romance novels under the pen name of Mary Westmacott. 




Dead Man's Folly was filmed here at Greenway.


The views out the windows are stunning. It's no wonder her family loved coming here for holidays.  Her daughter, Rosalind and her husband moved into Greenway after the death of Agatha and her husband Max in 1976.  Rosalind and her husband made their home here until they gave Greenway to The National Trust in 2000.  They continued to live here until their passing in 2004 and 2005. 


There is an interesting mural painting in the library.  It was painted by an American Coast Guardsman, Lt Marshall Lee when the home was occupied during WWII in preparations for D-Day.   Agatha thought it to be a fitting memorial and kept the mural when she returned to Greenway after the war when the home was decommissioned on Christmas Day, 1945.



The Dining Room was quite lovely with its curved wall.



The bedrooms upstairs were interesting with items from the 1950's.



Greenway is a lovely estate full of Agatha Christie's mementos.  How wonderful that her family has left it for posterity to get a glimpse into her life as Mrs. Mallowan. 


Thank you for coming along with us.  As we were leaving I had to take this photo. 


I love how the British take good care of their pets, even when traveling. 








41 comments:

  1. What a wonderful treasure that place is and how nice that you got to visit, my friend. I enjoyed all the photos you shared. You're a very lucky woman to have visited there. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. It is indeed a treasure, Teresa. As I'm recalling and writing these posts, I'm in total awe of the places we were able to visit. Have a nice weekend. ♥

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  2. Dame Agatha Christie was a fascinating character, and it's so wonderful that so much of her history has been left intact for the nation to enjoy. My first experience of her work was, as a child, seeing the indomitable force that was Dame Margaret Rutherford giving an inspiring performance of the enigmatic Madame Arcarti in Blythe Spirit. Later, Dame Margaret played the quaint and curious Miss Jane Marple, and so I was hooked!

    Super photographs of an incredibly beautiful spot that is hard not to fall in love with!

    ~~~Waving~~~From Across the Pond~~~Deb in Wales xoxo

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    1. Deb, I can just imagine the impression you had as a child seeing Blythe Spirit! Then seeing again Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple- how thrilling! The power of live theater continues to entice me. Being at Greenway was a wonderful way for us to know more about the real Agatha Christie! xoxo ♥

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  3. What a great tour you took us on, not a place that I have been to before but on my list of places I would like to visit.

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    1. Lorraine, I do hope you visit Greenway. It left quite and impression on both of us! ♥

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  4. Thank you for the tour. " And then there were none" I watched twice. The black and white and color. I read the book first.
    The doll on the sofa upstairs has somewhat of a frightful look at first. Very old dolls for sure.
    The pets bowls, never would have thought of that. love it.
    betsy

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    1. Betsy, I think a lot of old dolls have look that is pensive and somewhat frightening. Agatha Christie's work will span the ages, I'm sure. What an accomplished author! The pet bowls show British humor that I adore. ♥

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  5. Good sense of humor, too! I loved this tour. I recently watched a Netflix movie (I think) about the time that Agatha Christie went missing. It was a fictionalized account, I am sure, but she is a person who sparks a great deal of interest. I had not known that she remarried nor that she had a daughter. That home is just lovely and I would enjoy sitting on that lawn and taking in the views.

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    1. We must look for the movie you mentioned, Vee. I didn't know all the background of Agatha Christie either until we visited Greenway. One of the great things about traveling is all the things we learn and continue to research when we return home. The lawn chairs were hard to leave behind and especially the view! ♥

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    2. Yes, Netflix

      Movie: Agatha and the Truth of Murder

      Fictionalized account...Agatha solves a murder during her disappearance

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  6. What an amazing home! I've only read Murder on the Orient Express; never been a huge fan of mysteries, for some reason. She is a favorite of many people, and her books will endure long into the years to come. You would be an excellent guide for someone taking a trip to England! Your blog posts have uncovered so many wonderful sites that one would want to follow along in your footsteps!

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    1. What a kind thing to say, Nellie. We love Britain so much and always learn more than we could ever expect when we travel. I must credit my husband as well for all the planning we both did before we go on any trip. It can be tedious, but so necessary for a good experience. ♥

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  7. I'm not sure I've read but one, if that, of AC's books. Maybe I can get into them now in retirement! The home is lovely and I'm glad you could take photos inside. I'm also intrigued that you reserved a parking spot ahead of time? How efficient of the Brits!

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    1. Dotsie, Greenway is tucked in a lovely residential area with very narrow roads. At the respect of their neighbors they request you reserve a parking place at a certain time. This also assures not too many folks come at once and there is space for a tour. When we planned our trip we booked our parking space. Yes, very efficient!

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  8. HAHA...I love the bowls for the dogs! That is great. Awesome looking place, great pics but the dolls sort freak me out.

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    1. Pam, you are the second person to mention the doll's expressions. The bowls were so funny!

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  9. Beautiful absolutely beautiful, with so much warmth in each room. Serene is a great word to describe the scenery, I think I would loved to have sat in those chairs for quite a while. ~smile~ I found the mural to be so fascinating, and I am happy they kept it, I also enjoyed seeing the dolls as I am a doll? teddy bear collector, at least I used to be, I haven't bought any for years, but still enjoy the ones I have.
    i think your anniversary trip was perfect! Thank you for sharing, I have enjoyed your stories and photos so much, Martha Ellen.
    Blessings,
    Sue

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    1. Sue, you are a doll! I love dolls and have some old ones from my childhood. I'm so glad you are coming along with us on our anniversary adventure. It was very special to both of us. Blessings to you, my friend.

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  10. I'm in the process of reading all the Miss Marple books and have read two of her Mary Westmacott books, so this post was very interesting to me. I highly recommend the collection of Miss Marple short stories. Miss Marple is featured more in these than in the longer stories and a delight to read.

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    1. Cathy, I need to read some of her novels using her pen name, Mary Westmacott. Visiting Greenway has really sparked my interest in Agatha Christie. So glad to know of your interest in her work as well.

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  11. I love all of Agatha Christie's novels and have recently read her biography so this was very interesting indeed. Thank you.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. She was quite the character and so talented. It's nice to know you are a fan. xo ♥

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  12. That home is gorgeous..my mum has a whole collection of Agatha Christie books..many have been re read but all are loved..i think my mum would absolutely love to visit her home..beautiful pictures by the way..
    ftm

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    1. Agatha Christie is beloved by many. That's so nice your mum enjoys her writing. Maybe she can visit Greenway some day. It is a beautiful home on lovely property.

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  13. What a great tour this way. Don't we all love Agatha Christie's books? What a lovely home in a beautiful countryside. I really liked the mural painting.

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    1. You would think all would love her writing. I hope my post will spark an interest. The mural was a lovely surprise.

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  14. Martha Ellen, the holiday home of Agatha Christie is charming. I really enjoyed seeing it. The view surrounding the home is so green and pretty. I love the fireplace and the mirror above, it's unique. The built-in shelves are nice to display her lovely tea cups. The dolls and teddy bear are sweet, and add charm to the home. I enjoyed seeing her collections also. And she had dark furniture throughout, which we both love. She really had great taste, didn't she? Thank you for giving us a glimpse into this quaint home, Martha Ellen. I will go back and see it again. : )

    ~Sheri

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed seeing Greenway, Sheri. It was a delightful stop for us as we learned more about the intriguing Agatha Christie. Her decor is just beautiful and I'm sure we would be right at home there. Have a lovely week.

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  15. Exciting to me Martha Ellen. I worked in Torquay for many years and lived in a small village between Torquay and Paignton. I never got to see Agatha Christie's home (big fan by the way - love everything Agatha) but did get to see her chimney pot on the boat ride as we passed her house which was mostly hidden in the trees. The captain of the small ferry boat would always say, "And do you see that chimney pot up on the hill? That is Agatha Christie's house.") I still remember the oooohs and ahhhhs but back then it wasn't open to the public. Next trip back over the pond I will be heading there. Thank you, such a fabulous post!

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  16. P.S. we used to visit the pub at Stoke Gabriel also :)))

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    1. Oh Denise, it's so thrilling to have been to where you lived! It's just lovely there. I love that you shared about the captain identifying Agatha's chimney pot! So charming to hear that! It's nice to hear you will be visiting Greenway. It's a beautiful spot. We enjoyed it so much. We did not visit Stoke Gabriel--another reason to return! So glad to have you visit today.

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  17. Well, my husband and I are BOTH big fans of this author. We've read most of the books and enjoy going back to read them again. How nice that you can see this holiday home. Of course my heart skipped a beat when you showed the dolls! How beautiful they are. And I love that they were collectors! Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Diane

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    1. Diane, I knew you would be an Agatha Christie lover! I feel when you visit someone's home you get to know them better. Her beloved Greenway will always be upmost in my thinking when I read her books. Thanks for visiting today.

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  18. How exciting!! What a gorgeous home and property! I loved seeing everything! :-) I've always wanted to write a book maybe some day I'll get to it.... Hope you are having a great week! Happy Spring!

    Blessings,
    Jill

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    1. Jill, I hope you start your book. Thanks for spending time with us on our journey. Greenway was quite lovely in every way. Have a great afternoon.

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  19. I used to love watching Miss Marple on the TV and her books are just fabulous. A lovely post, you take such care when you share your wonderful tour with us.

    Your views show the loveliness of the Dart estuary too.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you for the nice compliments, Jan. We enjoyed Greenway so much. It's a gorgeous area. I can see why Agatha Christie wanted to live there!

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  20. Martha Ellen, I love this so much! I'm having a devil of a time getting caught up after Rick's accident but am doing my best! This post made it all worthwhile! I adore Agatha's books. I think I've read every single one of the ACs and even some of the Westmacotts. She really knows how to deliver a mystery in a relatively short number of pages! And they always baffle, but they are honest. I would love to see her home -it is beautiful and I would imagine her being very contented here. The mural is interesting. A haven. I'll be by to continue your reading as caretaking permits!

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    1. Jeanie, I'm so sorry about your husband. Sending prayers for a quick recovery. Agatha Christie certainly knows how to spin a mystery. Like you say, always a surprise. Greenway is a lovely home and property that really gave us a sense of the personal side of her. Do take care of yourself as well as caretaking can be quite hard. ♥

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