Mystery ends as Agatha Christie's home opens doors

[February 24, 2009]  LONDON (AP) -- The English holiday home where Agatha Christie spent her summers and entertained guests with readings from her thrillers is opening to the public for the first time.

Craftsmen have worked for two years to restore the house, Greenway, to gleaming 1950s condition. The rooms remain much as they were when the mystery writer lived there, complete with books, papers, boxes of chocolates and flowers.

Christie's grandson Mathew Prichard said Tuesday the house had been restored to its former beauty.

Christie bought the house near Dartmouth in southwest England in 1938 and spent holidays there until 1959. Her family donated it to a conservation group nine years ago, but until now only the garden has been open to the public.

The house opens on Saturday.

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On the Net:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/
w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-greenway

[Associated Press]

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