Deco Devon: Coleton Fishacre & Greenway

I have some more vintage UK travel inspiration for you today!  On the second day of our Torquay stay, we packed in two National Trust owned historic houses - Coleton Fishacre, and Greenway.  After a quick breakfast in Wetherspoons we drove South of Torquay to the lovely coastal setting of 1920s' Arts & Crafts country house, Coleton Fishacre.  Once home to the D'Oyly Carte family, of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, the quaint country exterior and gardens don't hint at the high Art Deco style of the interiors.  We stepped indoors into heaven!



There was a pianist playing in the swanky lounge to welcome us in, and when she saw my husband and I she swiftly changed the tune to 'Putting on the Ritz', saying that it was the only thing she could play for such a smartly dressed couple!  We learnt quite a bit from her about the interiors, as well as being entertained by her impressive piano playing.  The lounge's huge rug was designed by Marion Dorn, the lady behind interiors for The Queen Mary and The Savoy.  We also spotted a little bookcase that we had seen another version of recently in a recycling place for £5, and felt a bit gutted that we hadn't bought it at the time! (We have since checked, and it's unfortunately been sold already)

Above: The one that got away - we saw one of these with a nice vertical ridge design on the corners for £5 in our local recycling centre, but we dithered, and it sold...

Throughout the house there are swanky touches - wall lights by Lalique, for example - and some wonderful examples of early electric equipment such as heaters, hairdryers and vacuum cleaners.  Upstairs there is a 'hands-on' room where you are free to handle objects, and even try on the clothes if you wish.  I had a good rummage in the wardrobe!

Above: Hand painted tiles in the bathrooms.  The bottom right looks like Prince, according to my husband (sad news there, what a musical talent that has been lost).

Above: The spacey looking bit of chrome on the floor is an electric heater.

Above: The Arts & Crafts exterior.  They were painting the window frames whilst we were there.  The gardeners were hard at work too, they do a fabulous job, the grounds are huge.

We had a stroll down the steep gardens to the cove (not recommended in heels really, as it does get a bit muddy down the bottom, but it's manageable if you're used to wearing heels on all-terrain!).  We stopped at the visitor area then, where there is an award-winning little café - we had a lovely lunch of walnut, leek and stilton frittata (very reasonably priced too), and a good browse in the gift shop.

A short drive away was the second house of the day, Greenway.  This beautiful riverside Georgian house was Agatha Christie's beloved holiday home.  I can see why she held it in such fond regard, it really has the most beautiful riverside setting, with lovely walled gardens, and winding paths down to the Boathouse (where "Dead Man's Folly" was set).  We had some great chats with the staff there too, finding out a bit more about Agatha, and about when they filmed the Poirot episode there.  It had turned rather chilly though, so we didn't linger outside for as long as I would have liked to.  I bet those deckchairs are blissful on a warm day.

Above: My husband got to play Agatha Christie's piano!  Only proper pianists were allowed to have a go, so I refrained as I'm badly out of practice these days.

Above: A case of first editions, and a signed copy of the Poirot TV series' script for Dead Man's Folly.

We had such a fun day out visiting these two National Trust owned properties, both fascinating for different reasons.  I do hope this has given you some further travel inspiration.  If you're able to go to Coleton Fishacre later this month, they're having a Jazz Age Lawn Party on May 21st.  Further ahead, there's an annual Agatha Christie festival which I believe is in September, and it includes special events at Greenway.