IMAGE CREDIT/COPYRIGHT: Agatha Christie at Abney Hall c1902. Copyright: The Christie Archive Trust.

Agatha Christie

A year of Celebration...

Throughout 2026, we've been celebrating the connection that our village has with Agatha Christie.

In case you didn't know, Christie’s older sister ‘Madge’ lived here in Cheadle with her husband James Watts from 1902 until her death in 1950. One of their homes was Abney Hall and it is said to be one of the main inspirations for the iconic country house setting that features so prominently in Agatha’s work.

Several of Christie’s books are dedicated to Abney Hall or members of her extended family in Cheadle and it was to Abney Hall that she retreated, escorted by her sister, to recover following her famous 11-day disappearance in December 1926.

We've put together a programme of community events - all of which are FREE of charge. Some will have limited availability though, so be sure to follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/CheadleCivicSociety) and X (@CheadleCivic) for further updates of how to register to attend individual events.

The programme of events includes:

• The unveiling of an Information Board outside Abney Hall by Agatha’s grandson, Mathew Prichard, which will outline the story of her connection to Cheadle and her Watts relations
• An ‘Agatha Christie Book Club’, hosted by local crime-writer and million-selling award-winning author Kate Ellis, which will meet in the Drawing Room at Abney Hall and cover five books with specific connections to Cheadle
• A walking tour around the village, led by the local historian Andrew Frazer and supported by Hydes Brewery, that will highlight the buildings and locations with ties to Christie and her novels
• An ‘In Conversation’ with Martin Edwards, the president of The Detection Club – a crime writers association and a position held by Agatha herself for almost 20 years – and Kate Ellis, who will discuss Agatha’s influence on their work and the genre at large
• Local brewery Hydes has announced that its two village pubs, The James Watts (named after Madge’s husband and his ancestors) and The Crown, will showcase a special guest ale named Who Dunnit on selected dates throughout the year
• And Cheadle Library will be hosting two events - a ‘Creative Christie for Kids’ for local children to practice their mystery solving skills and create their own detective stories; and they will also host a ‘Crime Night’ for adult readers.
  
  

We've worked closely with Agatha Christie Limited, the custodian of the late author’s estate, on detailing the family connection - and we want to shine a spotlight on Agatha’s sister, Madge, as much as the novelist herself.

Phillip Gould-Bourn MBE, chairman of Cheadle Civic Society, said: “Lots of places claim a ‘Christie connection’, but Cheadle’s is a very personal - and influential - one. Madge lived in Cheadle all of her adult life and it’s clear her home was a place of refuge for her sister, in good times and bad. Through the programme of events we’ve put together – all of which are free of charge - we hope to make more people aware of the influence our village had on the life and work of the best-selling novelist of all time.”

Abney Hall was sold by Madge’s son in 1958 and later served as the headquarters of Cheadle & Gatley Urban District Council between 1959 and 1974. Since the early 1980s, the building has been owned and managed by Bruntwood, a leading property provider specialising in workspace and place-led regeneration and is currently leased as office space. As custodians of this historic building, Bruntwood has granted special access to Abney Hall for a number of our events, including plans to take part in the 2026 Heritage Open Days festival, allowing the public to explore Madge’s former home

Sharon Johnson, head of commercial at Bruntwood, said: “Abney Hall has been part of Bruntwood’s story for over 40 years, but long before that it played a hugely important role in Agatha Christie’s life and work. We’re proud to be supporting Cheadle Civic Society in opening up this remarkable building and sharing its history with the wider community. Celebrating Abney Hall’s literary legacy, and its deep connection to Cheadle, feels like a fitting way to bring people together and shine a light on the stories that were inspired by the building.” 

Among the Agatha Christie books with special connections to Cheadle are:

• 4.50 from Paddington (Said to be inspired by the layout of the grounds at Abney Hall)
• After the Funeral (A novel that Agatha dedicates to ‘good times at Abney’)
• The Body in the Library (Which Agatha dedicates to ‘Nan’ Watts who was a lifelong friend)
• Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (The plot of which Agatha says was influenced by her brother-in-law, James Watts)
• The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (In which Agatha gives a detailed dedication to ‘the Christmases of her youth’ at Abney Hall

The Information Board about Agatha Christie that will be unveiled outside Abney Hall will form part of the new Cheadle Community Heritage Trail, launching in the spring, which has been supported by a grant from the Northern Trains Community Project Fund. We'll have more to say about that very soon!

WHAT'S ON

Agatha Christie Book Club in the Drawing Room at Abney Hall

Thursday 5 March (6pm-7pm) - 4:50 from Paddington - Fully Booked!

Thursday 7 May (6pm-7pm) - After the Funeral - Fully Booked!

Thursday 2 July (6pm-7pm) - The Body in the Library - Fully Booked! 

Thursday 3 September (6pm-7pm) - Hercule Poirot's Christmas - Registration details to be confirmed.

Thursday 5 November (6pm-7pm) - The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding - Registration details to be confirmed.

Tuesday 15 December (6pm-7pm) - The Secret of Abney Hall - Registration details to be confirmed. (NEW EVENT ADDED)

Literary Events at Cheadle Library

Thursday 5 March at 4pm - Creative Christie for Kids at Cheadle Library - No registration required. Just turn up on the day.

Thursday 12 November at 5:30pm - Crime Night at Cheadle Library  - No registration required. Just turn up on the night.

Agatha Christie Walking Tour of Cheadle - Kindly sponsored by Hydes Brewery

Meeting point: The Ockleston Memorial on Cheadle Green. Finish point: The James Watts Pub.

Sunday 19 April (11am-12.30pm) - Fully Booked!

Sunday 17 May (11am-12.30pm) - Fully Booked!

Sunday 14 June (11am-12.30pm) - Fully Booked!

Sunday 12 July (11am-12.30pm) - Fully Booked!

Sunday 16 August (11am-12.30pm) - In-person registrations from 10am on 1 Aug (at our Cheadle Makers Market stall). (EXTRA DATE ADDED)

Sunday 6 September (11am-12.30pm) - Registration details to be confirmed.

Agatha Christie's Cheadle

As our Agatha Christie Walking Tour of Cheadle has proved so popular, we have decided to turn the 'walk' into a 'talk', which we are calling 'Agatha Christie's Cheadle'. That way, anyone who has been unable to join one of the Sunday walking tour dates can still hear about the buildings and locations across the village with a connection to Agatha, her work or her sister Madge. The talks will be held in St Mary's Church which ensures a bigger capacity for these events. (Please note: The information in this talk will be exactly the same as covered in the Walking Tour and will be the same talk given at both dates below, so you only need to register for one.)

Saturday 3 October (4pm-5pm) - Registration details to be confirmed. (NEW EVENT ADDED)

Wednesday 4 November (6pm-7pm)  - Registration details to be confirmed. (NEW EVENT ADDED)

Agatha Christie and Me

Saturday 15 August (2pm-3pm). Venue: St Mary's Church, Cheadle. (NEW EVENT ADDED)

Join Matt Newbury, Creative Director of the Agatha Christie Festival, for a captivating and entertaining talk about the Festival’s history and his own adventures inspired by the Queen of Crime. Held each September in Agatha Christie’s hometown of Torquay, the Festival celebrates the life and legacy of one of the world’s most beloved authors. Through stories, insights and humour, Matt will share his unique experiences of bringing Christie’s world to life and the remarkable journey that her work has taken him on.

The event will be taking place in St Mary's Church, where Agatha would have worshipped every Christmas whilst visiting Abney Hall and where her sister Madge's memorial service was held. Click here to book your FREE ticket.

Heritage Open Days 2026

Abney Hall: The Country House That Inspired Agatha Christie (House Tour). (NEW EVENT ADDED)

This special event to open up Abney Hall for tours will give fans of Agatha's work the opportunity to see the country house that she first experienced aged just 11 and continued to visit for more than 50 years. The tour will explore the influence her sister and her sister's in-laws had on Agatha's work - including The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, 4:50 from Paddington, After The Funeral and Hercule Poirot's Christmas.

Saturday 19 September (10am-4pm) - Online registrations on 19 Aug. In-person registrations on 5 Sept (at our Cheadle Makers Market stall).

Sunday 20 September (10am-4pm) - Online registrations on 19 Aug. In-person registrations on 5 Sept (at our Cheadle Makers Market stall).
 

In Conversation: Martin Edwards & Kate Ellis

Saturday 25 April (1pm-2pm). Venue: St Mary's Church Cheadle - Fully Booked!

For more details on all our Agatha Christie events please use the message form below...