Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Beach Huts and Dame Agatha!

 

Life at the shore often includes beach huts in the UK, and there are about
 20,000 of them scattered along the island's coastline which measures
 approximately 8,000 miles.
The history of these small wooden buildings is timeless.
To own one is like having a precious piece of shoreline history in your 
pocket. To purchase one these days can be like buying a quite decent 
full-sized house. . . . . . .you'd need deep pockets!!
One hut, in Dorset, was recently for sale at over five hundred
 thousand pounds, twice the price of the current average home. 
Apparently it's cute but doesn't have a toilet!


These are the colorful huts along the beach at Corbyn Head in my
 hometown of Torquay. I spent a lot of my childhood beach days
here, swimming, fishing for hermit crabs in the rock pools, picnicking, 
and even managed to almost get stranded with a friend at high tide
 in the red sandstone caves in the cliff!



Behind the beach is The Grand Hotel where author Agatha Christie
 spent her honeymoon. Born and raised in Torquay she is now celebrated
 annually - info below if you are interested in attending in September.
What an amazing author she was!



Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady MallowanDBE (née Miller
15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her
sixty-six detective novels and fourteen short story collections, particularly
 those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple

She also wrote the world's longest-running play, The Mousetrapwhich
 was performed in the West End from 1952 to 2020, as well as six novels
 under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott

In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) for her contributions to literature. 
Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer
 of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies. 
via Wikipedia

9 comments:

  1. I knew author Agatha Christie was born and raised in Torquay and I knew she spent her honeymoon in The Grand Hotel. But I cannot remember if Christie had access to a beach hut herself, or even if she mentioned them in her novels.

    My parents didn't have enough money in the 1950s and early 60s to buy a beach hut, but we loved using other families' huts. Thanks for the link... it was a great experience
    Hels
    https://melbourneblogger.blogspot.com/2022/05/thank-you-uk-australias-bathing-boxes.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hels, I left a comment on your May post about the beach huts - thanks for the link which I've enjoyed so much.
      I 'm planning another post later on Agatha C. in Torquay!

      Delete
  2. I well remember the beach huts in Scarborough! Never actually been inside one, but I know they are highly sought after. To pay so much money for one seems outrageous, though.
    Dame Agatha was a very unusual woman!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you're not melting in Yorkshire Meike!
      If you open Hels' link in her comment above, there's a very interesting story of beach huts along Australian beaches.
      Yes, Dame Agatha lived a very unusual but interesting life for a woman in her time. Just wish I knew where she found the time to write so much!!!!!

      Delete
  3. I love Agatha Christie! I had no idea beach huts were privately owned or that they were worth that much!

    ReplyDelete
  4. As a child, now and again, we would hire a beach hut for the day. I'm not sure if you an do that anymore as they are now so desirable ! They weren't thought of as much in the old days but, as you say, they now command astronomical prices .... ridiculous when you think how small they are. I always found the story odd when Agatha Christie went missing and, when they found her, she said she had amnesia ..... it was all very peculiar ..... would have made a great novel !!! XXXX

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't believe the price of this little huts. It's astronomical! I wish I had a deep pocket though, because they are really cute. Lack of toilet facilities may be a problem though. I love Dame Agatha and have read many of her books, usually in a day or two as I could never put them down

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love those beach huts! I didn't know that Agatha Christie was from your home town.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I had no idea those little beach huts could cost so much. Definitely prime property. They are really cute. How fun to have Agatha Christie grow up and live in your town. That is just extra special.

    ReplyDelete

I would enjoy reading your comment - thanks so much for stopping by.