This December Agatha Christie’s short story The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding has inspired the festivities in her holiday home Greenway. Visitors can follow in the famous detective Poirot’s footsteps as he enjoys his first ‘old-fashioned Christmas’ complete with Christmas puddings – puddings that are unique to Greenway as they have all been lovingly knitted, crocheted or made from felt by volunteers from across the country.
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding is an Agatha Christie short story in which Poirot, while investigating the mystery of a stolen ruby, spends Christmas in a country house under the ruse of experiencing his first traditional English Christmas.
With stockings to fill, holly and mistletoe to hang and a Christmas tree to decorate – as well as Christmas puddings to enjoy – this was the perfect theme for this Christmas. In the book the pudding plays a vital role as the hiding place for the stolen ruby, so the decorations at Greenway are really celebrating that.
Sabina Collier, marketing and communications officer, said: “In the summer we began asking our volunteers at the National Trust English Riviera if they would like to help to make crafty Christmas puddings to decorate the house.
“Through our weekly newsletter I shared a selection of knitting and crochet patterns and, in August, we explained the theme and how the puddings would be used. From there, word of mouth really spread, with volunteers’ friends, families and craft groups getting involved with the project.
“We promoted the volunteering opportunity online, and through that we had volunteers applying from across the country to help out.
“Lots of people who got in touch said how they loved contributing their time and skills to our cause from the comfort of their own home. They then told their friends and craft groups what they were working on, and more and more people created crafty puddings and posted them in to Greenway.
“The local craft groups have also been really keen to help out, and even a residential home in the nearby town of Brixham heard about it. Their residents knitted over a hundred puddings which lined the windowsills in their rooms until they were collected and brought to Greenway.”
The puddings, of all shapes and sizes, have been hung on seven different Christmas trees across Greenway, as well as decorating all areas of the house. So far approximately 1000 puddings are in place, and with more arriving in the post every day. In addition, a childrens’ trail involves hunting for the stolen ruby, just as Poirot did in the novel.
Visitors an experience The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding at Greenway on Saturdays and Sundays in December (excluding Boxing Day) and 27-31 December, 11am-4pm. Throughout the month there is a special admission rate of £8 adults, £4 children (free for National Trust members and under fives). Find out more and book your parking space by calling 01803 842382 or visiting www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway
(from a press release)
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