All Things Conan Doyle & Holmes

[Graham]

Edward Hardwicke took over the role from David Burke, and I thought he stayed with it until the series ended. Was it David Burke you meant, C.D.?

Graham

[c.d.]

Does anyone know why Edward Hardwicke left his role as Dr. Watson? I always thought he made a perfect Watson.

c.d.

[The Grave Maurice]

Thanks, Graham. I'm now among my books and, just to clarify your post for others, what you're saying is that Dakin confirms in his excellent volume that Dorothy L. Sayers in her Unpopular Opinions (1946) was the first to make the Hamish=James connection.

[Graham]

I'm not near my books so I can't check, but it was Dorothy Sayers (I think) who concluded that Watson's middle name was Hamish and, therefore, "James" was his wife's pet name for him.

So did D Martin Dakin - just checked!

Graham

[The Grave Maurice]

I'm not near my books so I can't check, but it was Dorothy Sayers (I think) who concluded that Watson's middle name was Hamish and, therefore, "James" was his wife's pet name for him.

[Graham]

He undoubtedly got it from Baring-Gould who, in his Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: a Life of the World's First Consulting Detective, says, at p. 13, that the Master was baptized William Sherlock Scott Holmes, after William Sherlock, his father's favourite theologian, and his mother's favourite author, Sir Walter. Holmes was known to use the alias "Escott", a combination of his second and third names (see CHAS).

Yep, I read Baring-Gould yonks ago and my eyes popped. My God, what was Mycroft's full name, then? Nigel?

On the subject of names, Watson's initials were JHW, and it's generally accepted that his first name was John - 'cos he says so. However, in The Man With The Twisted Lip, his wife calls him James....had she been at the mother's ruin, I wonder, or get him confused with the bloke who hopped over the garden wall when Watson was gallivanting around with Holmes?

Graham

[Autolycus]

Just Another Brick in The Wall..

I must admit that I haven't read this entire thread. However, the following may be of tangential interest.

Some years ago I was entertained by the management of what was then the Abbey National Building Society whose London office was where 221B would have been.

They had been working on the building and had saved some of the original bricks. A number of their busines contacts (myself included) were given one of the original bricks in a presentation box with a seal of authenticity attached. Until a recent house move it was still propping open the study door.

Regards,
Autolycus.

[Steven Russell]

He undoubtedly got it from Baring-Gould who, in his Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: a Life of the World's First Consulting Detective, says, at p. 13, that the Master was baptized William Sherlock Scott Holmes, after William Sherlock, his father's favourite theologian, and his mother's favourite author, Sir Walter. Holmes was known to use the alias "Escott", a combination of his second and third names (see CHAS).

Thank you very much for that, Maurice. I can see I am going to have to find a copy of Baring-Gould. I hope he was wrong about the 'William' though.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Hoxton Creeper]

Hates Sherlock 'olmes I does.................

[The Grave Maurice]

He undoubtedly got it from Baring-Gould who, in his Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: a Life of the World's First Consulting Detective, says, at p. 13, that the Master was baptized William Sherlock Scott Holmes, after William Sherlock, his father's favourite theologian, and his mother's favourite author, Sir Walter. Holmes was known to use the alias "Escott", a combination of his second and third names (see CHAS).

[Steven Russell]

I like it! I thought maybe sphinctomonologia.

Best wishes,
Steve.

PS Back to Holmes - I really enjoyed Nick Rennison's biography of the great man except that he gives our hero's full name as William Sherlock Holmes for no reason I can fathom. Any ideas anyone? Has he found some records or a gravestone or what?

[Autolycus]

Hi Steven

There certainly ought to be a word for that ability...

Analinguistic?

Regards
Autolycus

[Sally]

Hi Graham

For want of anything better to do last night I watched The Priory School (Brett/Hardwick) and wondered why the producers screwed around with the story so much. This is one of the better stories IMHO and doesn't need embellishing. But never mind, still a good watch.

I haven't seen any of the Brett/Hardwick episodes for a while - I spent a very happy Christmas watching them all a few years ago when they were on TV - bliss! I know The Priory School - yes, it is good - the fiendishly clever criminal, as usual - horses disguised as cows? Who'd have ever guessed that?!

I'm afraid I'm ultimately a fan of The Hound - how could it not be a favourite? I like all the stories really though. The Blue Carbuncle is great!

I only really just found this thread - so must ensure I actually read it in future - hopefully then I'll avoid any more faux pas!

[Graham]

Hi All

I apologise for crashing in with a dumbass post yesterday - I had totally failed to notice that the episdoe in A Study in Scarlet had already been mentioned.

There is a possible solution to the myterious relationship between Holmes and Mrs. Hudson which would allow for her not to be the owner of 221B Baker Street. She may have been the lessee, and Holmes a sub-lessee. This was very common practice then, so an explicit mention wouldn't have been required. Pure speculation, of course!

I'm sure everyone knows that division of houses was also common practice - perhaps another slight clue that the ultimate owner was not Mrs Hudson? I've always thought that Holmes and Watson occupying half a house as tenants, but in a well to do area suits their social station in life perfectly.

Good thinking, Sally! I was wondering how long it'd be before someone mentioned it...

For want of anything better to do last night I watched The Priory School (Brett/Hardwick) and wondered why the producers screwed around with the story so much. This is one of the better stories IMHO and doesn't need embellishing. But never mind, still a good watch.

Graham

[Sally]

Hi All

I apologise for crashing in with a dumbass post yesterday - I had totally failed to notice that the episdoe in A Study in Scarlet had already been mentioned.

There is a possible solution to the myterious relationship between Holmes and Mrs. Hudson which would allow for her not to be the owner of 221B Baker Street. She may have been the lessee, and Holmes a sub-lessee. This was very common practice then, so an explicit mention wouldn't have been required. Pure speculation, of course!

I'm sure everyone knows that division of houses was also common practice - perhaps another slight clue that the ultimate owner was not Mrs Hudson? I've always thought that Holmes and Watson occupying half a house as tenants, but in a well to do area suits their social station in life perfectly.