Tuesday 13 October 2015

A Walk in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK

A walk in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

If you can find the time, a walk in Wallingford to visit Agatha Christie's previous home you will be well rewarded. Just south of the town, a five-minute walk, it's a beautiful property called Winterbrook House. It has a large garden to the rear, which is hidden from the road.








A visit to St Mary's church at Cholsey is also a treasure. The Town of Cholsey is about two miles south of Wallingford; a leisurely walk or a short drive. The church has parking for cars. Tucked away on the right behind the church, towards a distant corner is where you will find the grave of Agatha and Max Mallowan. 
It's not easy to see the words written on the gravestone, but they can be found in Dead Man's Folly, page 43 in the paperback edition. 

"Sleep after toyle, port after stormie seas, ease after war, death after life, doth greatly please ..." 

Taken from Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, Book 1, Canto IX. 

It is a delightful visit. On the nearby wall a plaque details of the planting of twenty-five trees in the church to celebrate her centenary year.