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Richard Lancelyn Green was a leading expert on Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. When he died unexpectedly in 2004 he bequeathed his collection to Portsmouth after visiting the city’s Central Library as part of his research into Conan Doyle. He was so impressed by how knowledgeable and helpful the staff were, plus the fact that Sherlock Holmes was created in Southsea, that he decided Portsmouth should eventually become home to his life’s work.
Always willing to help out others who shared his passion for Holmes and Conan Doyle, Richard insisted, as a condition of his bequest, that his collection remains available to the general public as well as to scholars and aficionados.
The Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Richard Lancelyn Green Collection is one of the most wide-ranging in the world. It includes first editions of books, related letters, film and television memorabilia, as well as Richard’s recreation of Sherlock Holmes’ Baker Street study.
Items with some connection to Sherlock Holmes, from match boxes with Sherlock Holmes on them, to adverts in magazines and even copies of the Radio Times with listings of related programmes, are included in the Collection.
The items featured on this website offer only a glimpse of the treasures within the Collection. Find out how you can explore the Collection in more detail.
Explore the collection
Silver Cigarette Box
Gift given by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to G.C. Ashton Jonson in 1928.
Photo of Jeremy Brett
Jeremy Brett played Sherlock Holmes in ITV's television series which ran from 1984-1994.
Photo of Professor Challenger from the 1925 production of The Lost World
Wallace Beery as Professor Challenger restraining an unidentified man.
Photo Arthur Conan Doyle in Canada
Arthur Conan Doyle standing on the observation gallery of the special Pullman car Canada, on the…
Inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe
Was Edgar Allan Poe's fictional amateur sleuth, Auguste Dupin, the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes?…
Photo of Conan Doyle's cigar box
Cedar wood and leather cigar box owned by Arthur Conan Doyle (April 2012)
Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle with Craigie Aitchison KC
Taken in Edinburgh after the Oscar Slater Appeal hearing, 10 July 1928. (July 2012)
Photo of Sensory Exhibition Launch
We created a mini exhibition with 16 audio described panels of information about the collection and…
Photograph of Joseph Bell
Bell was involved in several police investigations, mostly in Scotland, but he is perhaps best…
Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle standing by Innes Conan Doyle's grave
After the end of the First World War, Conan Doyle's brother, Innes, took part in relief work in…
Stitching a Story Exhibition
Images of the 'Stitch a Story' exhibition at Portsmouth Central Library.
Attacked by pterodactyls in The Lost World, Strand Magazine
Challenger is knocked down by pterodactyls
Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle unveiling memorial tablet
Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle unveiling the memorial tablet to Henry Fielding at Widcombe Lodge…
Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle and Louise, in Egypt
Conan Doyle and his first wife, Louise, spent a lot of time in Egypt.. (August 2013)
Photo of Conan Doyle in the Garden at Bignell Wood
Arthur Conan Doyle hoping to attract fairies in the garden of Bignell Wood.
Photo of the Bunny Warren Storytelling Session
Storytelling session at Bunny Warren Nursery to celebrate the Cottingley Fairies
Dinosaurs, Fairies and Conan Doyle Exhibition Stand
An exhibition showing Doyle's diverse interests and life - from the Lost World to the Cottingley…
Photo of the Doyle Family
Photograph of Arthur, Jean, Denis, Adrian and Billie Conan Doyle at Niagara Falls

- 1Silver Cigarette Box
- 2Photo of Jeremy Brett
- 3Photo of Professor Challenger from the 1925 production of The Lost World
- 4Photo Arthur Conan Doyle in Canada
- 5Inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe
- 6Photo of Conan Doyle's cigar box
- 7Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle with Craigie Aitchison KC
- 8Photo of Sensory Exhibition Launch
- 9Photograph of Joseph Bell
- 10Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle standing by Innes Conan Doyle's grave
- 11Stitching a Story Exhibition
- 12Attacked by pterodactyls in The Lost World, Strand Magazine
- 13Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle unveiling memorial tablet
- 14Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle and Louise, in Egypt
- 15Photo of Conan Doyle in the Garden at Bignell Wood
- 16Photo of the Bunny Warren Storytelling Session
- 17Dinosaurs, Fairies and Conan Doyle Exhibition Stand
- 18Photo of the Doyle Family
