Agatha Christie in...Kingsbridge & Salcombe

Broadsands, Devon

I've not had chance to write anything for a week as I've been busy reading and researching all the places in Agatha Christie books. There are so many places to visit and so many things to see!! We might not be able to visit all places - but we'll try!

Next on my list are Kingsbridge and Salcombe...

Both places feature in one of Christie's novels - Towards Zero. There's a map at the beginning, and it's quite clear that the map is of Kingsbridge. In the novel, Kingsbridge becomes Saltington and nearby Salcombe becomes Saltcreek.

Saltcreek is described in the novel as 'a straggling picturesque fishing village set on the side of a hill'. 

The t.v. adaptation of Towards Zero was filmed around here too. As with a few of Christie's books, the novel doesn't originally feature Miss Marple, but she's the main character in the adaptation - and it's up to her to solve the mystery - which of course, she does! In the novel, the main protagonist is Superintendent Battle, who is on holiday with his nephew.


It's a shame he has been replaced, because I quite like Superintendent Battle, he appears in a couple of Christie's novels, including Murder is Easy, The Secret of Chimneys and The Cards on the table - in which he appears with Hercule Poirot. So, it's a bit odd that he was replaced by Miss Marple. This is the second time I've noticed that the main male character has been replaced by Miss Marple when adapted for t.v....the plot thickens...

Although Kingsbridge and Salcombe don't appear in any other novels (as far as I'm aware), Peril at End House, which was set in Cornwall, was adapted for t.v. in 1990, and was filmed around Salcombe. It was mainly filmed around the harbour, where we see the main character, Nick Buckley, sail in and dock at Victoria Quay.

According to Exploring Agatha Christie Country, 'Union Street was the location for the scene in which Poirot, enjoying afternoon tea, has the workings of his 'little grey cells' distracted by the sight of a woman at another table feeding a bulldog' (p38).

I don't think I've ever been to Kingsbridge or Salcombe, so these are definitely on the list! We'll have to make sure we visit Victoria Quay and Union Street! Can't wait - it looks lovely around this area!

Until next time....!