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 Mallowan, DBE (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 Mousetrap, which

 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

Did you know. . . . . . . .?

 

 . . . . . . .my father roller skated with Agatha Christie!

That's not him in this photo with Agatha in the center. He would have

 been only 10 years old at that time, however he told me that he skated on

 the same Torquay pier at the harbour as a boy and recalled seeing her and

her friends having a great time.

Agatha on the right above.

Agatha center - Rock Walk background

Princess Pier - my photo taken from the condo above the harbour where we

 stayed at Christmas 2016

The pier is still there and although I've never roller skated on it I have

sauntered along it more times than I can count. At one time there was

a theatre/dance hall at the end but it was destroyed in a fire in April 1974

and sadly never re-built. Ferry boats operate from the end of the pier and

 cross Tor Bay to the busy fishing town of Brixham.

The seaside piers of Britain are an indisputably iconic fixture of life in many

 of the coastal cities and towns, whether for function or fun.

Currently many huge cruise ships, including Cunard's Queen Victoria (one 

of my favorites as we've sailed on her twice) are sheltering in Tor Bay and 

along the English Channel coast while inoperable due to COVID-19.

This past Sunday PBS aired an interesting TV documentary about

 the late Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie with several views

 of Torquay, my own home town, where she was born and spent her

early life. . . . .as did I much later.

Granddaughter Jasmin 'meeting' Agatha Christie 

Torquay, June 2015

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (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 Mousetrap, which 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

A recently published book titled 'The Mystery of Mrs. Christie' 

by Marie Benedict has tweaked my interest. . . . . . 

Described as 'Historical fiction, British literature, meta-mysteries, the real-life

1926 disappearance of novelist Agatha Christie, interesting questions, 

reckless conjecture.'

If anyone has read this book I would love to know what you thought of it.

Can you tell I'm homesick?

'The Queen of Crime'. . . . . . . . .

I'm not certain if I've ever told you about Torquay's very, very famous literary lady.

Agatha Christie, crime novelist, short story writer, and playwright, who is often called 

The Queen of Crime, was born here in 1890 to a wealthy family, and grew up in 

my home town. 

There is an excellent exhibit section covering Agatha's life at the small local 

town museum. Photography is usually not permitted, however a very kind docent 

allowed me to take a few photos when visiting there a few years ago, on a 

very quiet day when no other visitors were present!
Last month we stopped in again so that Jasmin could learn more about the 
natural history of the area and enjoy the Agatha exhibit - we couldn't
take any photos inside though as the museum was quite busy.

Agatha, center, at her weekly dancing class in Torquay.

Agatha, center, on Princess Pier, Torquay.

For me this is a special photo. 
My father, who was ten years younger than Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller, 
 told me that he went roller skating on the wooden boards of the Princess Pier at 
the harbor, and that he saw Agatha and her friends enjoying this sport.
It wasn't until I saw this photo in the museum that I actually had proof - I always 
thought he might be kidding me!

Jasmin 'meeting' Dame Agatha in Torquay.

Dame Agatha Christie was a great storyteller. 

Her own life was a different and quite interesting story also. 

You may have read many of her books, seen TV series such as Hercule Poirot 

and Miss Marple, and watched movies made from several of her books, such as 

Murder on the Orient Express.

If you want to know know about this novelist and her sometimes strange life, including

her mysterious disappearance in 1926, you can find the all details HERE.