The Cheadle Community Heritage Trail with Cheadle Civic Society

Cheadle Civic Society

Since its inception in 1964, the Cheadle Civic Society has been instrumental in making Cheadle a better place to live. This year, they have organised a comprehensive programme of events, including walks, talks, exhibitions, and community gatherings, to celebrate the fascinating connection between Cheadle Village and Agatha Christie, the world’s most famous crime writer.

The Agatha Christie Connection

Agatha Christie’s elder sister, ‘Madge’, lived here in Cheadle with her husband, James Watts, from 1902 until her death in 1950. One of their homes was Abney Hall, which is believed to have significantly inspired the iconic country house settings featured so prominently in Agatha’s work!

Several of Agatha’s novels are dedicated to Abney Hall or members of her extended family in Cheadle. It was at Abney Hall that she retreated, accompanied by Madge, to recover following her famous 11-day disappearance in December 1926.

Christie passed away 50 years ago this year (in January 1976) and Cheadle Civic Society want to mark this occasion by making more people aware of the influence Cheadle had on the novelist’s life and work.

Information Boards

As the longest-standing firm in Cheadle, we are delighted to have be invited to collaborate on one of Cheadle Civic Society’s exciting plans – Cheadle Community Heritage Trail. A series of Information Boards have been installed at key locations across Cheadle Village, including;

• Abney Hall
• St Mary’s Church (coming soon)
• Brooklyn Crescent Park
• Cheadle Green
• Cheadle Primary School
• Jonathan Alcock and Sons Ltd
• Cheadle Green

We are particularly excited to feature our own – The Alcock Family – Information Board at our Funeral Home on Brook Road! These boards celebrate Cheadle’s rich history, showcasing notable local landmarks and significant historical connections.

Our Information Board, located in the planation area at the front of Brook House, our Funeral Home, highlights our extensive history, detailing how Jonathan Alcock founded Alcocks Builders and Undertakers at the young age of 17, back in 1863. Fast forward to today, and our family firm is now led by Jonathan’s great-great- granddaughter, Sarah Parker, and her mother Barbara. You can read more about our history here.

The Launch

We were excited to attend the launch of the Heritage Trail, where we were warmly welcomed at Abney Hall for the grand unveiling of the Agatha Christie Information Board. Mathew Prichard, Agatha Christie’s grandson, had the honour of cutting the ribbon, revealing the board that tells the story of his grandmother’s connection to Cheadle.

The intimate ceremony was attended by our team, members of the Cheadle Civic Society, representatives from Bruntwood, Friends of Brooklyn Crescent, the Manchester Evening News, and a representative from Manchester Airport Community Trust. You can read more about the launch here.

Cheadle Community Heritage Trail

The Trail connects key heritage landmarks, greenspaces and community hubs across Cheadle. Participation is completely free and aims to engage both visitors and locals, serving as a valuable educational resource for students and learners.

Cheadle Civic Society has developed the Trail with support from Northern Trains Community Project Fund, the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund and ourselves here at Jonathan Alcock and Sons Ltd.

You can pick up a copy of the Trail map at local retailers and the library; it is also available at our Funeral Home on Brook Road in Cheadle, or you can download the map here.

For a full list of forthcoming Agatha events you can download the calendar here.

For more information about the work of Cheadle Civic Society, visit: cheadlecivicsociety.uk.