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Saving "Sherlock's" home

The fate of Undershaw, the former Surrey home of Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, may soon be decided for good.

Undershaw: under threat?

The Grade II listed building is boarded up and empty, hidden from the Hindhead traffic, which passes close to the building, by mature trees and shrubs.

Those who do catch a glimpse of the imposing red brick Victorian house may not be aware that it was built on the instruction of the author, and where it is thought, he wrote his most famous Sherlock Holmes tale, The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Owned by private developers, Undershaw
has been the subject of many failed residential planning applications. Campaigners are now calling for it to be turned into a visitors centre.

BBC Surrey's Robin Davis reports from the site and Heloise Brown, Conservation Adviser for the Victorian Society explains more about the building's history and immediate future.

You can listen again to the audio clip here.

Listen to the report on Undershaw >

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last updated: 11/05/2009 at 10:11
created: 08/05/2009

Have Your Say

What do you think should happen to the building? Should it be turned into flats, or a visitor's centre?

gavin hall ,wellngton NZ
Keep it for everyones sake. Its special gavin hall

Dave S.
Oh my goodness. I read many Sherlock Holmes stories as a child, as my parents did before me. How can this house be anything but an explication of Conan Doyle's life? I hope it will be preserved.

Damian
I believe it would be better if it was turned into a visitors centre - it would attract tourists from all over the world who love the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.

colin skilton
Surely this building is an important part of our heritage. Sir Arthur and his most famous Creation Sherlock Holmes are known across the world. It would be a travesty if this house was bulldozed or left to rack and ruin. The Nationl Trust should definately buy the house. How many beautiful old buildings and important ones have we lost due to no action being taken?

J. Willsher
A visitor centre - with some interesting displays on the house, it's owner and the area.

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