The private world of Dame Agatha Christie is to be unveiled to the public for the first time, thanks to the amazing generosity of her family.
Greenway, overlooking the River Dart near Galmpton, was gifted to the National Trust in 2000 by the great crime writer's daughter Rosalind Hicks and her husband Anthony.
Two years later, Greenway's lovely 30 acre gardens were opened to the public along with the boat-house and footpaths on the 278 acre estate, but the Grade II* listed house remained the private residence of the Hicks'.
However, following the death of Rosalind in 2004 and Anthony in 2005, Dame Agatha's grandson Mathew Prichard has given permission to the National Trust to open up the 18th century house.
The Drawing Room
As an added attraction, the family is also allowing the trust to display items owned by Dame Agatha, who was born in Torquay.
The National Trust in Devon estimates it will cost 拢2.2 million and take three years to complete the necessary work for the doors to open.
The trust's vision is to open part of the ground floor to garden visitors, and use the top two floors of the house as holiday accommodation and storage.
The announcement on 15th September coincides with the inaugural Christie Week - a national celebration of the best-selling novelist of all time.
The trust's property manager at Greenway, Robyn Brown, said: "Although we have at least three years of vital restoration work to the house before we can open it to the public, we intend giving a series of special tours showing visitors some of this work in action.
"Many of the fascinating artefacts acquired by Dame Agatha on her travels with her archaeologist husband Max Mallowan will be shown.
"The trust hopes to restore the heart and soul of Agatha Christie's much loved summer home which itself makes a thinly-disguised appearance in at least two of her novels.
A painting of Agatha in the Morning Room
"We are immensely grateful to the family for all their generosity and support. Rosalind and Anthony took a brave decision to allow visitors to explore what was their private garden and enjoyed hearing visitors delight in discovering this hidden gem.
"Over the next few years, we want to work with Mathew Prichard and bring Rosalind and Anthony's vision for the house alive.
"This will ensure that Greenway is cared for and enjoyed by visitors for generations to come."
One idea is to give the house a 1950s theme: "The heyday of Greenway in recent history was about the 1950s, which is when Agatha was reaching her pinnacle as a writer and as a best selling author," said Robyn.
"And it was the time that she had the most fun here at Greenway. She would come for eight to 10 weeks in the summer with her butler and retinue, and they would party.
"They would have formal lunches and dinners, they would be out playing tennis and bowls and croquet. So the 1950s is an era we might well look at."
Robyn added: "What we have here is absolutely unique - it is Agatha at play. There's nothing to do with writing, which I think is almost refreshing. Agatha had three houses, and Greenway was very much her holiday home.
The Library at Greenway
"She was a passionate collector, so what we have are all sorts of things she was passionate about.
"It may be boxes, it may be prints, it could be different things she was interested in and that represents what is in the house at the moment.
"Greenway Garden is the most magical, wonderful garden with an amazing plant collection.
"But it has to be said that Greenway House sits in the centre of the garden and without it, or elements of it, being open, it doesn't quite match somehow. It doesn't quite fit.
"And therefore people do come and say how great it would be to have a look. People need to be a wee bit patient yet, but that time is coming."
Mr Prichard says he wants Greenway to be a legacy for everyone to enjoy: "The National Trust has owned Greenway since 2000 and I am indebted to them for taking great care of the estate and opening it up for all to enjoy.
"I an delighted that they plan to open up the house to the public as well, ensuring the care of the property for future generations to enjoy."
For visiting details, contact Greenway on 01803 842382. Or visit the National Trust's website, linked from this page.
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