The UK has always been proud to look after its heritage. After all, we’re lucky to have hundreds upon hundreds of years of history on this island. Ranging from Royal history, naval history, invasions and everything in-between, we’re not short of heritage to look after. This country has even produced some of the worlds finest writers. Shakespeare is always a first thought on the list, what comes after are many names that have kept this country prominent in the world literature scene. So it’s rather surprising, nay shocking, that the pride has slipped and that an important piece of our literature heritage is at serious risk from developers. I speak of course of Undershaw, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s home.
Conan Doyle is famous for his huge literary achievement, Sherlock Holmes. There can’t be many who haven’t heard of him. Conan Doyle wrote 56 short stories and four novels on Holmes, and achieved great success because of them in his lifetime. Even when he killed Holmes off in “The Final Problem”, fans of Sherlock voiced their disappointment, and eventually Conan Doyle caved in to their demands and wrote some more stories. I don’t think I know of any other writer who has created such a popular character that the readership demanded more. So why is Undershaw not being preserved? After all, with Conan Doyle’s writing heritage, it wouldn’t take too much to understand why it should.
Sir Arthur had Undershaw built for his sick wife Louise. She suffered with tuberculosis, and the doctor’s recommended healthy air, for which Surrey is known. So Sir Arthur found a site in Hindhead and had a house built for her needs. They live there from 1897. Some of the Sherlock Holmes stories were written there including the famous “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” They had many famous visitors from Bram Stoker to Virginia Woolfe. Louise died in 1906 and Conan Doyle moved out the following year. It was then sold and turned into a hotel. The hotel closed in 2004. It was purchased by developers and has remained empty. A grade II listed property, it is now dilapidated, been vandalised and has boarded up windows. Planning approval was given in June 2010 to turn the house into threetown houses.
Undershaw 2010
It seems to be a sad end to the home of one our greatest writers. A government report stated that it was not of architectural note and that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was not of the same standing as Jane Austen or Charles Dickens. Really! Are they talking about the same man whose stories have been turned into endless films, TV, radio and stage productions? Do they not know that over 70 actors have played Sherlock Holmes and that there are over 260 active Sherlock Holmes societies around the world, with endless publications being produced? Many contemporary writers have written there own Sherlock stories, such has been the inspiration. It has even been noted that some people think that Sherlock Holmes was a real person. That’s quite an accolade in itself.
So what is to become of Undershaw? All hope is not lost. The Undershaw Preservation Trust are working hard to gain support to keep Undershaw for the people. The UPT was established in 2009 by John Gibson, FRICS and co-founders Lynn Gale and Sue Meadows, with actor Mark Gatiss (BBC Sherlock) as their patron They are currently gaining huge support from people all over the world, including celebrity support, to preserve the house. They also have been successful in their application for a judicial review in the High Court in London on the 23rd May 2012. The review is to try to overturn the planning decision by Waverley Borough Council.
Would you like to help save Undershaw? If so, you can help by following them on Twitter or liking their Facebook page. You can also visit their website, saveundershaw.com and leave a message of support.
