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Torquay Accommodation
Agatha Christie was born in Torquay and spent her childhood there
Take the Agatha Christie Mile trail around Torquay. Plaque on Torquay Pavillion
The Grand Hotel, Torquay at Night, spook. Location of Chistie's honeymoon
Princess Pier, Torquay. See photos of Agatha Christie on Princess Pier at Torquay museumAgatha Christie Biography Torquay Tourist Information UK
Torquay pays due homage to it's home grown genius of detective fiction, and there is a large exhibition/Agatha Christie biography at the superb Torquay Museum. On offer is a fascinating selection of photographs, books, and costumes from tv adaptations of Agatha Christie's books.
Torquay history and the town's architecture will be of particular interest to Agatha Christie fans, wishing to ponder on the influences of Christie's upbringing in this historic Devon seaside town.
Agatha Christie Biography
Torquay is synonymous with Agatha Christie, and pays due homage to it's homegrown genius. Christie was rather cagey about her many detective stories, comparing their production to a sausage factory. Lovers of the Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot Agatha Christie books however will no doubt beg to differ, for they are indeed journeys of discovery and insights into human behaviour, through the perspective of two very unlikely detectives, which is the 'rub' of course. Christie did once point out that Ariadne Oliver, the rather scatty authoress of detective stories and a character well liked by Poirot, did represent her a little. Certainly they both loved to eat apples in the bath! As for physical appearance, though, there were stark differences. Christie was always very well turned out, whereas Ms Oliver seemed to always have a problem with her unruly hair, and was partial to tatty tweed skirts - very un-Christie.
Torquay Museum has a whole exhibition dedicated to Agatha Christie, with an array of fascinating photographs reflecting on Christie's life, particularly growing up in Torquay. Christie's father, Frederick Miller was an American, a character who was rather slap dash with his finances, and her mother Clara came from a background of both luxury and instability. Clara purchased the sprawling villa Ashfield in Barton Road, Torquay. The large greenhouse at Ashfield is described in detail by Christie in her later work 'Postern of Fate'. Agatha Miller was born to parents Frederick and Clara in Torquay Devon on the 15th September 1890 at Barton Road. She married Colonel Archibald Christie in 1914. Archie was an aviator in the Royal Flying Corps. There was one daugher from the marriage, Rosalind. The Christie's divorced in 1928. She produced her first novel, introducing Hercule Poirot, in 1920 in 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles', although she actually wrote it during the war years of 1914-1918, it took some time to get it published! The ingenuity of plot twist in 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' (1925) is also considered one of her greatest works.
Father Frederick was rather a hoarder, and the house was crammed with various ornamentals purchased from the many dealers serving the fasionable rich of Torquay. After the death of both parents, Christie spent many hours in a dilapidated Ashfield shifting through it all. Photographs reveal Christie's many interesting female relations, particularly austere looking Auntie Grannies depicted taking the air in Torquay. Agatha Christie's own biography has captured public interest, particularly around the 10 days of disappearance, a genuine loss of memory brought on by considerable stress. Christie's husband Archie had left her for another women, and her mother Clara had died of bronchitus
It is the post war Agatha Christie books, particularly in the 1920s, that are perhaps the best. During the 1920s there was a huge market for detective stories in the UK, and these detective stories had set conventions and form. Agatha Christie played rather cleverly in her early writing years with such conventions.
Agatha Christie Mile Walk
Calling Agatha Christie fans, get your leaflet guide for the Agatha Christie mile walk from Torquay Tourist Information centre. This walk takes in some of the key Agatha Christie landmarks in Torquay and surrounds, and is a fairly leisurely walk with not too many hills!
Start at Torquay Tourist Information centre, then the leaflet guide takes you up Beacon Hill to the most luxurious hotel in Torquay, The Imperial, built in 1866. They do civil wedding ceremonies here now, if you fancy getting married in style! This hotel has been used by Agatha Christie as a setting in some of her books, and she swam in Beacon Cove below. Superb views are to be had up here across Torquay bay. This little walk conveniently takes you past the Torquay Museum with it's Agatha Christie exhibition, and onwards past the Grand Hotel, venue for Christie's honeymoon. The Grand Hotel is particularly interesting for it's rather magnificent Victorian and deco architecture.
Check out the Torquay Museum Shop and Agatha Christie exhibition as your first port of call on the Agatha Christie trail around Torquay, and further afield into Dartmouth heading for her later home Greenway at Dartmouth. The Torquay Museum has an excellent shop, usually selling the David Gerrard 'Exploring Agatha Christie Country' on sale. It's well worth picking up a copy of this as it covers all the key Agatha Christie hotspots in the Torquay and South Hams area, with some excellent commentary linking in hotels and buildings to those used by Christie in her detective stories.
If you're a fan of Agatha Christie's books, then taking in the cove beaches such as Meadfoot where Agatha Christie used to swim, or walking along Princess Pier in Torquay, a favourite haunt of Christie's for roller skating, or glimpsing the rare photographs of Agatha Christie and her family at the Torquay Museum is all superbly enlightening, bringing her books alive, taking in her Devon influences, and learning a little about the author herself. Agatha Christie's biography is also usually on sale in the Torquay Museum shop.
Torre Abbey Historic House & Art Gallery, Torquay
Visitors to Torquay should unfortunately bear in mind that Torre Abbey Historic House and superbo Art Gallery is currently undergoing refurbishment, and unfortunately will not be open to the public until Summer 2008. That said, it's well worth talking about what to expect when it finally opens, especially on the art side, and the art gallery collection here is rather amazing, with a definite biased towards Devon homegrown artists. Torre Abbey, as the name suggests, began life as a monastery and was built in 1196. Today it's used primarily as the Mayor's office, but there is a chapel on-site which can be hired for various religious ceremonies. When Torre Abbey opens to the public in 2008 there may be a few additional suprises, but what guests can expect are a selection of historic rooms, Torre Abbey was a stately home for some time, and for viewing is the beautiful dining room and family chapel .
The jewel in the crown though is the art collection. Torre Abbey's art gallery contains a fantastic selection of paintings, pictures, silver, glass and Torquay pottery. For a full listing of the art collection check out the link to the right. Also to view are the splendid medieval Abbey ruins, the finest in Devon and Cornwall. Agatha Christie fans, why not head to Torre Abbey also to view the The Agatha Christie memorial room. The complex is also surrounded by delightful gardens and a palm house. Other bonus activities include the ""Quest"" leaflet for families and antique hunts for collectors. There is also a Victorian Kitchen which can accommodate upto 50 people and provide refreshments!
The art collection has evolved through donations to this Torquay Abbey since about 1930. So, they'll be an interesting insight into the tastes of rich Torquay families from that period - eek! The particular interest in this collection is it's focus on local South Devon artists, and on works depicting the South Devon landscape. For example, there is work by local artist Maud Hogarth who was confined to her Devon home due to a spinal injury. Her painting, 'Gold of Earth' depicts horses towing the binder up a steep Devon hill. There's some rather obscure curios here as well, such as Heather Wilkin's painting 'The Torquay and Paignton Gas Works'. This painting was exhibited at an exhibition entitled 'Industrial Britain' held in 1956, which was sponsored by steel magnates Richard Thomas and Baldwins. As you'd expect there's a few depictions of Torre Abbey and surrounding buildings by local artists - like Devon born John William Salter and his work 'The Tithe Barn, Torre Abbey' (1873). Roll on the reopening 2008!
Torre Abbey Historic House, Kings Drive, Torquay, TQ2 5JE. Tel: +44 (0) 1803 293593
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