I would recommend Greenway to any Silver Travellers, especially Agatha Christie fans. The house itself is set in gorgeous countryside with beautiful views of the sea and the River Dart. There are delightful walks and the interior is fascinating.
The house is kept just as if it were still being lived in (in fact I believe that parts of it are) and everything is just as one would expect of a house of that age. There were some lovely touches – for example a portrait of Agatha as a young child holding a doll. The actual doll was seated just beside the picture on a chair, showing a few signs of age but still recognisable. There was also a piano in one of the drawing rooms and visitors were invited to play it. While we were there a visitor gave a delightful rendition of Beethoven’s Fur Elise which she played beautifully. I will always think of Greenway when I hear that in future.
We saw a library that contained all Agatha’s first editions, and the actual wooden toilet where she sat – a real sight to behold. We saw the table laid for dinner including a jug for Agatha’s double cream which she liked to drink as she was teetotal. I found myself wondering whether it might not be healthier to drink wine rather than double cream, but Agatha lived to be 85 so who am I to say!?
The house had a real ‘feel’ of the twenties and thirties and although I wasn’t around at that time I can imagine exactly how it felt. The shop and cafe were good too, although our visit was rather spoilt by wasps, but this is an occupational hazard at this time of year.
I can well understand why Agatha Christie described Greenway as “the loveliest place in the world”. I would agree that perhaps it is one of the loveliest places in Devon.