Stephen Fry backs calls for Sherlock Holmes museum
LDRS
A WORLD-FAMOUS star has backed calls to transform a Portsmouth building scheduled for demolition into a ‘fabulous’ Sherlock Holmes museum.
Actor, comedian, writer and TV personality Stephen Fry has thrown his support behind a campaign to open a ‘global attraction,’ dedicated to Arthur Conan Doyle and his works, in the former records office, in Old Portsmouth.
As reported, the Edwardian building is due to be knocked down to make way for new council homes. However, almost 1,000 local residents signed a petition opposing the plans.
Now activists have mooted proposals to convert the site and to ‘properly’ display a renowned Conan Doyle collection owned by the city – known as the Lancelyn Green collection.
Showing his support, Mr Fry, said: ‘Each new generation has found in him a hero for their times. No one who has studied the phenomenon would disagree when I say that this worldwide fascination admiration and need for Sherlock will only continue to grow and grow and grow.
‘A Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle Museum in Portsmouth would be wonderful for the city and surrounding area, and wonderful for the legions of fans around the globe whom it will attract.
‘The Lancelyn Green Collection is the most magnificent archive of Holmesiana
ever assembled. The former records office store in Portsmouth would be an
ideal location for this fabulous repository.
‘I urge Portsmouth City Council to seize the moment to help create something that will contribute hugely to the city’s reputation.’
Currently a portion of the city’s Conan Doyle archives are on display on the ground floor of the Portsmouth Museum, which neighbours the disused Records Office, and as part of an exhibition at the central library that is still closed due to Covid-19.
Campaigners Alicia Denny and Alvin Edyvane who approached Mr Fry for his support said the preservation of the building was ‘so important.’
Conservative activist for the St Thomas ward, Ms Denny, said: ‘I am delighted Mr Fry has recognised the ideal synergy between this beautiful Victorian building situated so close to where Conan Doyle wrote the first Holmes stories and the need for a proper home for the Lancelyn Green bequest.
‘The city’s rapidly dwindling stock of heritage buildings need imaginative preservation and appropriate re-purposing wherever possible.’
Mr Edyvane, a resident of Gunwharf Quays, added: ‘The main thing we are trying to achieve is stopping the council from demolishing a beautiful building, it is the last part of the Victoria Barracks so it should be preserved.
‘We are in talks with Historic England at the moment about making it a listed building.
‘Giving the building a purpose like this will ensure it is saved for years to come. We feel quite let down that the council’s first plan is to knock it down for housing.’
But Councillor Steve Pitt, the council’s culture boss, said: ‘The records office is a completely unsuitable building – it is dilapidated and the floor is collapsing.
‘It would need hundreds of thousands of pounds to make safe. We consulted with the public who agreed housing would be the best use of the site.
‘A Conan Doyle museum is something that would be great for the city, but we need to find the right location.’
The records office has been out of use for around eight years. Any archives kept there are now stored at Southsea Library.
Councillors are set to debate the fate of the records office during a full council meeting on March 16 after a motion was scheduled by Cllr Matthew Atkins.