In the novel Hercule Poirot's Christmas, Gorston Hall is the home of Simeon Lee. His son Alfred and his daughter-in-law lives there with him. In Part 1 of the novel, it is stated that Gorston Hall is located in Longdale, Addlesfield. Colonel Johnson is the Chief Constable responsible for the area. In Three Act Tragedy (1934), it is stated that his county is Yorkshire. In the present novel, written 4 years later, his county is stated as "Middleshire". This could be a new county or Yorkshire under a pseudonym.
In the 1995 ITV adaptation of Hercule Poirot's Christmas, Gorston Hall is set in Shropshire. There is a shop called "Gorston General Store and Post Office" which suggests that the nearby village is also called "Gorston".
Domestic Staff at Gorston Hall[]
Simeon Lee employed a large domestic staff:
- Sydney Horbury - Simeon's valet
- Edward Tressilian - butler
- Walter Champion - footman
- Emily Reeves - cook
- Queenie Jones - kitchen maid
- Gladys Spent - head housemaid
- Grace Best - second housemaid
- Beatrice Moscombe - third housemaid
- Joan Kench - between-maid