Torquay: walking the Agatha Christie Mile
The sun was shining and the sky was blue so we headed to Torquay to follow the ‘Agatha Christie Mile’- which is not a mile, but closer to four! Launched in her centenary year, this walk was created with the aid of Christie’s daughter, Rosalind and offers seven plaques for fans to find which highlight key locations around the town which are connected with Agatha Christie and her time here.
However, our first stop was slightly out of town to the site of ‘Ashfield’, Agatha’s childhood home. Nothing remains of the impressive Victorian house with large gardens, tennis courts and a croquet lawn which she lived in with her parents, Frederick and Clara Miller and her two older siblings, Monty and Madge. Her childhood here seems to have been idyllic and despite financial difficulties after her father’s death, Agatha continued to live in the house until she she married, returning for the birth of her daughter Rosalind. Forced to sell ‘Ashfield’ in 1938, when she leaned it was to be demolished in 1962, Agatha tried to save it, but this was not possible. This plaque is now all that indicates she once lived here, an estate of houses now on the land.
Once parked, the first stop on the walk was the Tourist Information Centre which can be found on the Harbourside. The ladies inside could not have been more helpful and friendly, making for an excellent start to the venture! From here, we followed the harbourside and headed to the Millennium Bridge, crossing this and continuing along Beacon Quay where Agatha enjoyed the Regatta Fair.
There is an impressive D-Day memorial here and two concrete slipways a little further along were constructed for the embarkation of American troops for Operation Overlord. People were waiting to catch the ferry here, seemingly oblivious to the history beneath their feet. A piece of art composed of three elements commemorates this event: the cross, the ring and a row of lights set into the decking which form a message in Morse Code- Vanishing Point.
The walk continues up Beacon Hill Terrace, taking us past the Regina Hotel which is marked by a plaque noting the stay of poet, Elizabeth Barret Browning. Continuing up the hill, the views are lovely, looking down to Beacon Cove where Agatha used to go swimming at the Ladies’ Bathing Cove. Here, she almost drowned when she got into difficulties when towing her nephew on her back. She was saved the by ‘the Old Sea Horse’, a man who was on hand to help anyone in need.
The second point on the walk is the Royal Torbay Yacht Club where Agatha’s father was a member. We just wandered past the entrance and continued on our way to the Imperial Hotel where we located plaque number three before heading to the lounge to enjoy a cool drink and some fabulous views!
Christie based ‘The Majestic’ in Peril at End House on the Imperial and Miss Marple also stays at The Majestic in The Body in the Library and again in Sleeping Murder. Leaving the hotel, we headed back down the hill, turning right at the junction of Parkhill Terrace and Torwood Street and making our way to the Torquay Museum.
The Museum has a dedicated Agatha Christie Gallery which includes items from the David Suchet adaptation of ‘Poirot’. One of Miss Marple’s- as played by Joan Hickson- outfits are also on show. There is plenty else to see in the museum and the gift shop offers an incredible range of second hand Christie novels as well as other items.
Crossing the road from the museum, we wandered through Torwood Gardens Park, down the hill and past the clock tower where we found the statue of Agatha Christie with her dog, Peter, sitting on a bench. Continuing along The Strand, we went through the covered walkway alongside the Tourist Information Office to the bust of Agatha, commissioned by the English Rivera Tourist Board to mark the centenary of her birth.
Heading past the Pavilion building, sadly shrouded in scaffolding, where Archie Christie accompanied Agatha to a Wagner concert on the 4th January 1914 after which he proposed to her. Crossing the Princess Gardens, we headed towards the Princess Pier and spent some time watching the sun sparkling on the water.
Crossing the road to Torre Abbey Meadows, we walked through the beautifully kept gardens, passing Torre Abbey (Plaque 6) which is home to the International Christie Festival and the Agatha Christie Potent Plants Garden, created with plants used by some of her most famous villains. However, we were running out of time and so passed this by, a treat in store for another day!
The final stop on the walk is Plaque 7- The Grand Hotel- an imposing white building. It was here that Agatha spent her one-night honeymoon with Archie on Christmas Eve 1914. The perfect spot for a Devonshire Cream tea, it makes a delightful ending to a very satisfying walk!
A book list full of ideas for detective stories for children can be found on the Federation of Children’s Book Groups website.
