The Old Swan Hotel
Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.
In December 1926 an abandoned car was found at a chalk pit in Surrey. The discovery resulted in one of the biggest man hunts of the time.
The owner, suffering from a nervous breakdown, had then travelled to London and boarded a train to Yorkshire (allegedly having seen a poster advertising the destination on the platform). Several hours later the 36 year old woman arrived at The Swan Hotel in Harrogate and checked in under the name of Theresa Neale.
This, of course, wasn’t her real name - it just happened to be that of the woman with whom her husband had been having an affair. In truth, she was Agatha Christie. Her disappearance prompted a nationwide search involving over 1,000 police officers while, for ten days, she remained unnoticed in her room of the then Swan Hydro. In fact, it wasn’t until a local banjo player recognised the author that the search was called off and her husband travelled north to meet her.
It is still debated whether the affair was merely a publicity stunt or, as she always maintained, the genuine results of amnesia caused by the accident. But whatever the real reason, the hotel was the location of the film Agatha starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave in 1977.
See the Historic Hotels in Yorkshire index
The owner, suffering from a nervous breakdown, had then travelled to London and boarded a train to Yorkshire (allegedly having seen a poster advertising the destination on the platform). Several hours later the 36 year old woman arrived at The Swan Hotel in Harrogate and checked in under the name of Theresa Neale.
This, of course, wasn’t her real name - it just happened to be that of the woman with whom her husband had been having an affair. In truth, she was Agatha Christie. Her disappearance prompted a nationwide search involving over 1,000 police officers while, for ten days, she remained unnoticed in her room of the then Swan Hydro. In fact, it wasn’t until a local banjo player recognised the author that the search was called off and her husband travelled north to meet her.
It is still debated whether the affair was merely a publicity stunt or, as she always maintained, the genuine results of amnesia caused by the accident. But whatever the real reason, the hotel was the location of the film Agatha starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave in 1977.
See the Historic Hotels in Yorkshire index
Online Booking and Reviews for The Old Swan, Harrogate
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Old Swan Hotel
Swan Rd Harrogate North Yorkshire HG1 2SR Reviews and Booking. Please note that nightsinthepast.com plays no part in the actual review, booking or reservation process for this or any other accommodation. Costs for maintaining and developing Nights in the Past are met solely by it being the last referring site to our partners which results in a completed reservation. |
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