First glimpse of Agatha Christie’s lifesize bronze statue to be unveiled at her ‘secret’ hometown
Just up the B4009, Wallingford is celebrating its famous former resident Agatha Christie – who lived there for 42 years (1934-1976) and is buried in Cholsey – with the unveiling a lifesize bronze of the internationally acclaimed author.
The statue reveal at noon on Saturday, September 9 kicks off a fun-packed weekend of Murder Mystery events and activities throughout the Thames-side town.
Commissioned by Wallingford Town Council and grant funded, the bronze shows The Queen of Crime seated on a bench overlooking The Kinecroft Park, as if drawing inspiration for her next novel.
Figurative sculptor Ben Twiston-Davies, who also designed the Agatha Christie sculpture The Book in London, sees the statue as a “testament to the power of imagination” and there are many intriguing details to captivate those who pause to sit next to her.
The bench is positioned against the backdrop of Wallingford Museum, where visitors will discover a permanent Christie exhibition with correspondence and pictures from the time she spent living inconspicuously beside the Thames.
the bronze shows The Queen of Crime seated on a bench overlooking The Kinecroft park, as if drawing inspiration for her next novel
The Murder Mystery Weekend Celebrating Agatha Christieon September 9-10 sees a host of creative events www.visitwallingford.uk will give the full schedule and booking information with an initial line-up that includes:
Immersive Murder Mystery Experiences on the steam-powered Bunkline – a train service which Christie used – organised by the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway
A themed talk by Christie expert, historian, and author Lucy Worsley at the Corn Exchange Theatre, home of the Sinodun Players, the local amateur dramatics society of which Christie was President
Guided walking tours led by volunteers from Wallingford Museum, re-tracing the town’s links to Agatha and including a glimpse outside her former home, Winterbrook House
Permanent Exhibition at Wallingford Museum includes ‘At Home with Agatha Christie’ detailing her personal letters, work with archaeologist husband Max Mallowan, and their home life at Winterbrook House; and The Midsumer Murders connection – Wallingford was the original ‘Causton’
A programme of free Murder Mystery films at a pop-up, Open-Air Cinema in Wallingford’s historic Castle Gardens
Shuttle rides on the Bunkline train between Wallingford and Cholsey to visit Christie’s Grave at St Mary’s Church, Cholsey
A Murder Mystery themed supper at the Five Little Pigs restaurant, named after Christie’s Poirot novel, with a specially created Killer Cocktail
