Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie, the best-selling crime novelist of all time, lived near Wallingford.

Link with the Chilterns

The best-selling novelist of all time lived near Wallingford

Born

1890

Died

1976

Biography

Dame Agatha Christie, officially the most popular crime-writer of all time, owned Winterbrook House near Wallingford for over 40 years, which she shared with her second husband, the remowned archaeologist Sir Max Mallowan. Many of her famous books were written in Winterbrook House. She often accompanied Si Max on his excavations in the Middle East which provided material for some of her stories.

Agatha Christie moved into Winterbrook House in 1934, enchanted with its peaceful riverside setting. She and Sir Max lived very privately, splitting their time between Wallingford, London, overseas trips and her childhood home of Torquay. She died at Winterbrook House in 1976 and is buried in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Cholsey, under her married name of Mallowan.

What you can visit

Winterbrook House has a Blue Plaque on it. It is a private house, but the house and her grave can be seen on a walk from Wallingford following the Dame Agatha Christie Trail

Wallingford Museum has a special display on Agatha Christie as well as lots of exhibits on local history.