Here’s a property that could easily attract a mystery buyer.

The Oxfordshire home of Dame Agatha Christie has just come on to the market.

The beautiful Grade II listed Winterbrook House in Wallingford was the birthplace of some of the greatest crime novels of the 20th Century.

It is believed that the legendary author created the fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple in the library while living here with her archaeologist second husband Max Mallowan.

They couple moved in in 1934 after she spotted it advertised in a local newspaper.

She lived in the house for more than 40 years until her death in 1976. She is buried in nearby St Mary's churchyard in Cholsey.

The property, which is on the market at £2.75 million, has an English Heritage blue plaque by the front door in recognition of its famous former owner.

Stephen Christie-Miller, head of residential sales at Savills Henley, said: “Agatha Christie is one of Britain’s most loved authors and it’s a genuine opportunity for someone to own a piece of literary history.

“She wrote some of her bestselling novels in the house and Winterbrook itself is thought to have been the model for Danemead – Miss Marple’s house in the village of St Mary Mead.”

The current owners are solicitor Gregor Kleinknecht and Karen Holterman, who have lived at the property for 20 years with their two sons.

They said they were not aware of the history of the connection to Agatha Christie when they bought it.

Mr Kleinknecht said: “Winterbrook House obviously has a wealth of history and it’s been a privilege to live somewhere that has such a special place in the hearts of so many.

“There was no blue plaque on the house when we moved in and we weren’t aware of the Agatha Christie connection when we first saw the house – we only found out later on.

“Most importantly it has been a wonderful family home. It has been a very happy place for Agatha Christie and so it has been for our family and we will of course be sad to leave.

“We have enjoyed our time here immensely. However the time has to come to pass it on to someone new.”

The property is described by selling agents Savills as a five-bedroom home with a Queen Anne façade and later Georgian additions.

The five-acres of gardens extend down to the River Thames.

Set over three floors and with high ceilings and large windows, it has a kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, drawing room, library and study and the master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and dressing room.

There is a one bedroom cottage attached and a bothy.

Mr Christie-Miller added: “At the end of the garden there is also the potential to install a pontoon mooring subject to the usual planning permission.”

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