Wednesday 4 November 2009

A Brief History



Sir ArthurConan Doyle bought the plot of land after his wife Louisa was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He thought Hindhead would be a good place for her to rest because of its healthy micro-climate in the South Downs.

It is thought that the author drew up the plans himself, before asking his friend Joseph Henry Ball, an architect, to finalise the design.

Conan Doyle and his wife lived there for 10 years until she died and he remarried. He wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles there in 1902 and resurrected Sherlock Holmes in 1904.

Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, interviewed Conan Doyle at Undershaw. Afterwards he said: "It is so sheltered from cold winds that the architect felt justified in having lots of windows, so that the whole place is full of light. The picture on the right is where Bram Stoker interviewed Conan Doyle.

"Nevertheless, it is cosy and snug to a remarkable degree and has everywhere that sense of 'home' which is so delightful to occupant and stranger alike."

1 comment:

  1. I have posted the following comment on Uri's behalf and wish to thank him for his input.

    "Arthur Conan Doyle was a deep believer in the positive power of religious faith. He feared that the Victorian obsession with science was corrupting society, making people blind to everything which demanded belief from the heart instead of proof from the laboratory. He was a fearless champion of spiritualism, because he knew beyond doubt that there is a life after death. Despite vicious attacks by scientists, sceptics and mockers, he never gave up an inch to the aetheists. It is very important that Undershaw is preserved in his memory, and that we carry forward his message about the positive power of the mind".

    Much energy and love
    Uri Geller

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