About a hundred tourists found themselves stranded at the former residence of renowned mystery writer Agatha Christie in Devon county, England, for several hours on Friday, July 14. Severe weather conditions had caused a tree to fall, blocking the main road leading to the Greenway property and leaving the visitors unable to leave. The National Trust, responsible for managing the historic site, promptly informed visitors through their website about the road closure caused by the fallen tree.
During their unexpected stay, the trapped tourists made the most of the situation by enjoying cups of tea and engaging in friendly rounds of croquet on the estate's lawn, as reported by CNN. Caroline Heaven, one of the tourists present, contacted local news outlet Devon Live to share the news of their predicament, estimating that around a 100 visitors were stranded within the grounds of Christie's former holiday home.
Heaven told Devon Live, "I think what's happened is a tree, quite a big tree, has fallen down on the main road. There is only one road in and out of Greenway."
"It's not on Greenway's property so it's the highways people that are responsible for it. They haven't even turned up yet.
"There is about 100 of us trapped here, at least 100, and the staff. It's a shame really...They are doing a great job; they are giving us free teas and things. It's a bit bleak."
Acknowledging the situation, a spokesperson for the National Trust stated that they were aware of the visitors, staff, and volunteers who were unable to leave Greenway, assuring that every effort was being made to ensure their comfort during the wait.
The fallen tree on the main road, managed by the highway authorities, delayed their departure, leading to a somewhat disappointing turn of events.
Interestingly, this incident bore an uncanny resemblance to Christie's famous novel 'And Then There Were None,' where a group of individuals gathers at a remote mansion, only to find themselves at the mercy of a mysterious killer. Notably, Christie herself was known to entertain guests by sharing excerpts from her mystery novels and playing croquet at Greenway, as highlighted by the National Trust.
Fortunately, unlike the characters in Christie's fictional world, the stranded tourists did not face a grim fate. Rescue workers cleared the fallen tree and reopened the road, allowing the visitors to depart from the estate on Friday evening with the assistance of local rescue services.
