Undershaw as noted in The Windsor Magazine
Undershaw as noted in The Windsor Magazine is an article written by Christopher Roden published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 7, 1996/7).
Undershaw as noted in The Windsor Magazine
Undershaw: The Entrance Hall
Undershaw: General view as it appeared in the Windsor Magazine
The Windsor Magazine, Vol. 8, carried an article entitled 'Haslemere as a Literary Centre', which discussed many of the prominent authors who were living in the area of Haslemere and Hindhead in the late 1890s. Conan Doyle's home, Undershaw, was one of the homes featured, and we are pleased to reproduce the relevant extract from the article, along with the accompanying photographs, as a supplement to Robert Trotter's article.
At the summit of Hindhead, and immediately below the Portsmouth road, one of the younger forces in literature has erected his home. A few months since Dr Conan Doyle settled here, and already his services have been claimed by his neighbours on behalf of the literary society. With Grant Allen in the chair, the creator of 'Sherlock Holmes' adopted Dickens' plan, and read selections from his own books. 'Undershaw', so named by Dr. Doyle, faces almost due south; it possesses a pretty hall, built in baronial style, illuminated by a window containing the owner's arms. From this cosy corner one can look straight away through the south entrance down the valley-rich in broom-to the South Downs in the distance. The billiard-room is a pleasant apartment, opening from the hall, and here it seems quite natural to find originals of the sketches illustrating the adventures of the clever Holmes. The youthful branches of the family are here, there, and everywhere. First we see them in the hall, then with a rush they race down the valley; but for a minute we get them quiet, and here they are in our picture.
- Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
