Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:Residences

List of residences of Arthur Conan Doyle.

11 Picardy Place, Edinburgh (1859-1861)

Status : still exists with plaque.

Arthur Conan Doyle was born at 11 Picardy Place, Edinburgh, and lived here 2 years with his parents, his sister Annette, his aunt Catherine Foley and his cousin Catherine (1861 Scotland census).

11 Picardy Place (1949)
From left to right: James Seager (editor of the Edinburgh Evening News), John Doyle, and Sir Andrew Murray (Lord Provost).
The formerly Conan Doyle's 11 Picardy Place, is now the 2b Picardy Place (2016)

3 Tower Bank, Portobello, Edinburgh (1861-1864)

Status : street renamed, house replaced.

Tower Bank is now Figgate Bank. The house at 3 Figgate Bank seems too modern to be the original Conan Doyle's house.

Current house at 3 Figgate Bank (previously Tower Bank) in 2014.

Liberton Bank House, 1 Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh (1866-1868)

Status : still exists.

Arthur, and possibly other family members, stayed here with Mary Burton, a friend of Arthur's mother. Arthur lived here to facilitate his attendance at the Newington Academy (8 Arniston Place), around 1 mile north in Newington (see map). Arniston Place doesn't exist anymore, it has been replaced by buildings below East Newington Place.

Liberton Bank House is now an educational establishment run by the Dunedin School.

Note that the "Conan Doyle Medical Center" is just next to this house (the orange building on the left of the photo below).

Liberton Bank House, 1 Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh.

Map showing Liberton Bank (Liberton) and Arniston place 5newington), and the direct route 1 mile away north.

3 Sciennes Hill Place, Newington, Edinburgh (1868-1875)

Status : still exists.

The Doyle family resided at 3 Sciennes Hill Place, Newington, Edinburgh.

3 Sciennes Hill Place, Newington, Edinburgh (2019)

Hodder Preparatory School, Lancashire (1868-1870)

Status : still exists, but now residential flats.

Arthur Conan Doyle was a boarder at Hodder Preparatory School, Lancashire, before entering Stonyhurst College. Hodder Preparatory School is a building 0,8 miles north-east from Stonyhurst College near the Hodder river, now residential flats.

Hodder Preparatory School, Lancashire
Hodder Preparatory School, Lancashire

Stonyhurst College and Hodder Preparatory School locations.

Stonyhurst College, Lancashire (1870-1875)

Status : still exists.

After the Hodder Preparatory School nearby, Arthur became a boarder at Stonyhurst School, Lancashire. See map above.

Stonyhurst College during Academy Day when parents visit the College (ca. 1900)

Stella Matutina, Feldkirch, Austria (1875-1876)

Status : partially exists as "Stella Vorarlberg" on south side, but the main part on the other side of the Ill river was destroyed in 1973.

Arthur Conan Doyle was a boarder at the Jesuit School "Stella Matutina" in Feldkirch, Austria from september 1875 to summer 1876.

Stella Matutina (north side of Ill river), Feldkirch, Austria (1907).
Stella Vorarlberg (south side of Ill river), Feldkirch, Austria (2024). Reichenfeldgasse 9, 6800 Feldkirch, Austria.

2 Argyle Park Terrace, Edinburgh (1875-1877)

Status : still exists.

The Doyle family resided at 2 Argyle Park Terrace, Edinburgh, with Bryan Charles Waller.

2 Argyle Park Terrace, Edinburgh (2015).

23 George Square, Edinburgh (1877-1881)

Status : still exists with plaque.

Bryan Charles Waller leased 23 George Square, Edinburgh, as a consulting pathologist with all the Doyles as residents.

Second left as well (1886).
23 George Square, Edinburgh (2016).

15 Lonsdale Terrace, Edinburgh (1881-1882)

Status : still exists with plaque.

The Doyle family (Mary Doyle, Dodo, Connie, Innes, Ida and Arthur) resided at 15 Lonsdale Terrace, Edinburgh, leased by Dr. Waller. Arthur's father was at Blairerno House (a "home for Intemperate Gentlemen"), Annette was in Portugal and Lottie in Les Andelys (France).

15 Lonsdale Terrace, Edinburgh (2014).

Sheffield (1878)

Status : unknown location.

In Spring 1878, Arthur Conan Doyle was student assistant to Dr. Charles Sydney Richardson for 3 weeks which practice was at Nelson Terrace, 80 Spital Hill, Sheffield.

Cliffe House, Pound Lane, Ruyton-XI-Towns (1878)

Status : Still exists.

During four months in Summer 1878, Arthur was student assistant to Dr. Henry Francis Elliot at Cliffe House, Ruyton-XI-Towns, Shropshire.

Cliffe House, Pound Lane, Ruyton-XI-Towns (still exists).
Cliffe House's stables (before convertion to accomodation in 1988)

Clifton House, 63 Aston Road North, Birmingham (1879-1880)

Status : modern house with plaque.

During June 1879 to february 1880, Arthur Conan Doyle was a student assistant to Dr. Reginald Ratcliff Hoare.

Clifton House, 63 Aston Road North, Birmingham (2017)

The Elms, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham (1882)

Status : unknown exact location.

From february to april 1882, Arthur Conan Doyle was a medical assistant to Dr. Reginald Ratcliff Hoare's branch practice at The Elms, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, managed by Dr. Aspinal.

6 Elliot Terrace, The Hoe, Plymouth (1882)

Status : still exists with plaque.

In partnership for six weeks with Dr Budd at 1 Durnford Street, Plymouth and lived with Dr Budd at 6 Elliot Terrace, The Hoe, Plymouth.

6 Elliot Terrace, The Hoe, Plymouth (2017)

1 Bush Villas, Elm Grove, Southsea (1882)

Status : modern building with plaque.

In june 1882, Arthur Conan Doyle set up his own practice at 1 Bush Villas, Elm Grove, Southsea.

Arthur Conan Doyle in front of his doctor's office (the plaque can be seen on his left).
Arthur Conan Doyle revisiting Bush Villa transformed in a corsetry shop (1911).

Drawing by Arthur Conan Doyle of the Elm Grove part where is practise is established (1882).
1-17 Elm Grove now (2016).

Arthur Conan Doyle's plaque on the metal gate.

23 Montague Place, London (1891)

Status : building replaced by Senate House in 1932.

From march to june 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle and his family resided at 23 Montague Place, London, and had his eye practice at 2 Upper Wimpole Street.

Probable location of 23 Montague Place (1890s map).

12 Tennison Road, Croydon, South London (1891-1894)

Status : still exists with plaque.

From june 1891 to december 1894, Arthur Conan Doyle and his family resided at 12 Tennison Road, Croydon, South London.

12 Tennison Road, Croydon, South London (2016).

Grayswood Beeches, Highercombe Road, Haslemere (1896)

Status : still exists.

From may 1896 to january 1897, Arthur Conan Doyle and family resided at Grayswood Beeches, Highercombe Road, Haslemere.

Grayswood Beeches, Highercombe Road, Haslemere (2010).

Arthur Conan Doyle and his son Kingsley at Grayswood Beeches (1897).

Moorlands Hotel, Portsmouth Road, Hindhead (1897)

Status : destroyed and replaced with a new building, a care home.

From january to october 1897, Arthur Conan Doyle and family resided at the Moorlands Hotel, Portsmouth Road, Hindhead, Haslemere, as their new home Undershaw was not completed. Destroyed in 2010 and replaced with a new building, a care home, renamed as "Moorlands Lodge".

Note that Moorlands Hotel was in the same road and almost in front of "Undershaw" (see below).

Moorlands Hotel, Hindhead, Haslemere (1900s).
Moorlands Hotel, Hindhead, Haslemere (1900s).
Moorlands Hotel, Hindhead, Haslemere (1997).

Undershaw, Portsmouth Road, Hindhead (1897-1907)

Status : still exists, now "Stepping Stones" school.

From october 1897 to november 1907, Arthur Conan Doyle and family resided at "Undershaw", Portsmouth Road, Hindhead, Surrey, and stayed here for 10 years.

See also Arthur Conan Doyle Plaque Unveiling in 1997 by The Franco-Midland Hardware Company members and Arthur Conan Doyle's family members Georgina Doyle and Richard Doyle.

In 2014, the house was bought by the DFN Foundation (David Forbes-Nixon), renovated and extended as a school for children with special needs.

Exterior
Undershaw, Hindhead.
"Undershaw," the home of Sir Conan Doyle, at Hindhead, Surrey, England.
Conan Doyle's House, Undershaw.
Sir A. Conan Doyle's House Hindhead.
45391 Hindhead, Undershaw, FF & Co.
Conan Doyle's House, Undershaw.
View from "Undershaw", Hindhead.
Nutcombe Valley, from Sir A. Conan Doyle's House.

Interior
Undershaw entrance hall.
Stained glass large.
Stained glass small.
Stained glass detail with ACD monogram.

Large stained glass titles

Top line
- The Rose of England
- Monogram ACD (Arthur Conan Doyle)
- The Thistle of Scotland
2nd line
- Purcell of Foulkes Rath
- Pack of Kilkenny (for Catherine Pack, his maternal grandmother)
- Mahon of Cheverney
3rd line
- Percy of Northumberland (for maternal ancestors, Mary Percy)
- Butler of Ormonde
- Colclough of Tintern
Bottom line
- Patientia Vincit (Patience Wins, one of the Doyle's mottos)
- Hawkins of Devonshire (for Louisa Hawkins, his first wife)
- Conan of Brittany (for Marianne Conan, his paternal grandmother)

Small stained glass titles

Scott of Nupley (for maternal ancestors, Catherine Scott)
Foley of Worcestershire (for Mary Foley, his mother)
DFN Foundation (DFN = David Forbes-Nixon, the foundation who bought Undershaw to establish Stepping Stones school). The original caption was empty before restoration.

Plan of Undershaw north and south side
Plan of Undershaw north and south side with stained glass locations.

Other photos at Undershaw
Kingsley on Undershaw terrace (ca. 1900).
Arthur Conan Doyle on motorbike at Undershaw (april 1905).
Arthur Conan Doyle in his Deputy Lieutenant uniform at Undershaw (1902).
Arthur Conan Doyle and his brother Innes in car at Undershaw (undated).

Windlesham, Hurtis Hill, Crowborough, Sussex (1907-1930)

Status : still exists, now "Windlesham Lodge", a care home.

From november 1907 until his death in july 1930, Arthur Conan Doyle lived at "Windlesham", Hurtis Hill, Crowborough, Sussex, with his family.

An article dedicated to Windlesham : Windlesham, Crowborough was published in The Sussex County Magazine in december 1955.

Windlesham - Front
Windlesham. Front view (1912).
Windlesham. Front view (2024).

Windlesham - Garden pre expansion
Windlesham (1912).
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at Windlesham.

Windlesham - Garden post expansion
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle playing cricket at Windlesham.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle hosting the annual conference of the British Medical Association at his house, Windlesham (1912).

Windlesham - Interior
Arthur Conan Doyle reading at Windlesham (1912, photographed by Emil Otto Hoppé).
Arthur Conan Doyle playing billiard at Windlesham (ca. 1927).

Windlesham - Other
Arthur Conan Doyle with visitors at Windlesham (1914).

Windlesham - Arthur Conan Doyle's Funeral (11 july 1930)
The Funeral Service was held in the Garden of Windlesham. In front of coffin : Lena Jean, Adrian and Jean Conan Doyle.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was buried here before being moved in 1955 in Minstead Churchyard, Hampshire.

15 Buckingham Palace Road, London (1923-1930)

Status : building replaced.

From early 1923, Arthur Conan Doyle took a flat at "Buckingham Palace Mansions", 15 Buckingham Palace Road, London.

The 15 Buckingham Palace Road is around the dark building just before the building with cupola.

Bignell Wood, Minstead, Hampshire (1925-1930)

Status : still exists.

In october 1925, Arthur Conan Doyle bought "Bignell Wood", near Minstead, Hampshire.

The house entrance is now on road B3079, north of Minstead and along Cadnam River.

Bignell Wood (1925-1930)
Arthur Conan Doyle with Harry Ashton-Wolfe at Bignell Wood (ca. 1925).
Arthur Conan Doyle at Bignell Wood (1927).
Arthur Conan Doyle at Bignell Wood with his wife and dogs (1927).
Arthur Conan Doyle and family at Bignell Wood (1925~1930s).
Jean Conan Doyle with Denis and Adrian at Bignell Wood (1925~1930s).
Jean Conan Doyle with Denis and Adrian at Bignell Wood (1925~1930s).
Arthur Conan Doyle carrying furniture out the his Bignell Wood house after the fire (15 august 1929).
Arthur Conan Doyle salvaging effects in the wake of the fire that partly destroyed his home, Bignell Wood (15 august 1929).
Arthur Conan Doyle, Jean Conan Doyle and Denis Conan Doyle (left) rescuing furniture after their house was burned out (15 august 1929).
Arthur Conan Doyle, Jean Conan Doyle and Denis Conan Doyle (left) rescuing furniture after their house was burned out (15 august 1929).
Sir A. Conan Doyle (centre) with his wife, sons and daughter (on left).
During the fire. The skeleton structure at the back indicates the severe damage.
How Arthur Conan Doyle's house looked after fire was finally gotten under control (15 august 1929).