St. Mary Mead

St. Mary Mead was the fictional village created by popular crime fiction author Dame Agatha Christie.

The quaint, sleepy village was home to the renowned detective spinster Miss Jane Marple. The village was first mentioned in a Miss Marple book in 1930, when it was the setting for the first Marple Murder, 'The Murder At The Vicarage'. However, it was in fact described prior to the introduction of Jane Marple, in the Hercule Poirot novel The Mystery of the Blue Train, in which it was home to that book's protagonist Katherine Grey.

Before the Second World War, the village itself was not particularly large. The only road of significance passing through the village was High Street. Here were the well-established purveyances of Mr Petherick, the solicitors; Mrs Jamieson, the hairdressers; Mr Thomas's basket-weavers; The Blue Boar Pub; and Mr Baker's grocery shop. The little-trafficked station was also located at the very end of High Street. Then, slightly further up Lansham Road, was the fine Victorian structure of Gossington Hall. Until 1960, this was home to the charming Colonel Arthur Bantry and his wife Dolly (Miss Marple's best friends in the village). However, after Colonel Bantry's death in 1960, Mrs Bantry sold the estate, but continued to live on in the grounds in the East Lodge. The Hall was purchased by the film star Marina Gregg.

At the other end of Lansham Road, a small lane broke away from the main street. Nestled in this lane were three Queen Anne Georgian houses, which belonged to three spinsters. The first house belonged to the long-nosed Caroline Weatherby, who died some time before 1960. The second cottage belonged to Amanda Hartnell, a proud, decent woman with a deep voice. She continued to live in the village up to the end of the '60s. The last cottage, Danemead, belonged to Jane Marple, the famous spinster, who solved countless prolific cases between 1930 and 1976. The Post Office, and the dress-makers belonging to Mrs. Politt, are located in front of the Lane.

The centre of the village was the Vicarage, the very grand Victorian structure at the end of the Lane. The Vicarage was home to Reverend Leonard Clement and his pretty young wife, Griselda, until 1957, when Reverend Clement died. Mrs Clement continued to live on in the Vicarage.

Beyond the Vicarage were two more houses. The first was the residence of the village GP, Doctor Haydock. He continued to live on in the village beyond 1960. The other cottage was much larger than Doctor Haydock's. It belonged to Mrs Martha Price-Ridley, a rich and dictatorial widow, and the most vicious gossip in the town. There was also a large estate, 'Old Hall', belonging to the odious local magistrate, Colonel Lucius Protheroe. He was murdered in 1930 in Rev. Clement's study. After the war the mansion was turned in a block of flats, to the great disapproval of the villagers. Finally, just beyond the home of the dreaded Price-Ridley (as she is known by other villagers) was a small stream, leading to the fields of Farmer Giles.

However, the Second World War took its toll on the village, and soon after the war Farmer Giles' fields were bought and tarmaced over; and a new housing estate was built over it. It was referred to as 'The Development', by the villagers who survived the war. It was inhabited by such residents as the irritating Heather Badcock, and the helpful Cherry Baker. The Development was not popular and was despised by the villagers.

St. Mary Mead is really any country village one can visit today, where the quintessentially English atmosphere of a true piece of England can be seen.