'The air of London is sweeter for my presence' - Sherlock Holmes

When I decided to do this, I thought long and hard about who would be first.  I wanted to remind the world of the person behind one of the most famous characters in literary history. That's why I chose Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born on 22^nd May, 1859 in Edinburgh Scotland the son of Charles Altamont Doyle and Mary Foley. He started his adult career as a ships surgeon on the SS Mayumba in 1881.  The following year he joined a classmate by the name of George Budd in Plymouth as a partner in a medical practice. Fortunately for us, they didn’t get along and Conan Doyle left to set up an independent practice.  While waiting for patients, he started writing stories and the rest is history.

Recently I took a trip to South Norwood London, where Arthur Conan Doyle spent some of his adult life.  I managed to find the house he lived in on Tennison Road and procured a picture of the blue plaque that tends to go hand in hand with fame in London.  All though partially covered with ivy, the name is obvious. When you’re standing there taking a photo, it makes you wonder if the subject of the plaque once stood in that exact same spot.

Arthur Conan Doyle had several publications, but the most well known would be the 56 short stories and 4 novels that include Sherlock Holmes.  This character has proved so popular over the years that even now, they still make movies and television shows which are viewed favourably. The address – 221B Baker Street London where the character lived, is a museum which houses props relevant to the Sherlock Holmes stories. 

 221B Baker Street, the address of the fictitious Sherlock Holmes, now a museum.

A visit to the museum was a treat for my son Brendan (pictured above) who is a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories and a wealth of information on the subject.

Like a lot of writers, Arthur Conan Doyle based his characters on real people. The inspiration for Sherlock was Dr Joseph Bell a scottish lecturer at the Univeristy of Edinburgh.  The infamous Moriarty is said to be based on Adam Worth who is buried in consecrated ground at Highgate cemetery.

Picture of the grave of Adam Worth, the inspiration for James Moriarty

Arthur Conan Doyle died on the 7^th of July 1930 and is buried in Minstead Churchyard. Although the creator is no longer with us, his characters will live on reminding us that - Once upon a time in Edinburgh, the man who created Sherlock Holmes was born.

www.sirarthurconandoyle.com

www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk