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Story Cubes
With Portsmouth City Council's Libraries and Archives Service, we received a grant from the Arts Council to provide events and activities under the project title of City of Stories.
Working with Splodge Designs and local community groups, six story cubes have been created. These have been be used as a game with families, schools and community groups to devise stories based around Sherlock Holmes.
The six cubes have the following themes:
One – Background
All six sides show a vista where the story takes place
Two and Six – Characters
Each side of the cube shows one character from Sherlock Holmes. When one is selected it will be placed within the created story.
Three – A Clue
An image of a clue is shown on each side of the cube.
Four – Sherlock Holmes Tools
This cube includes the items Sherlock Holmes could use to help solve the case. For example a magnifying glass.
Five – Themes
This cube has a theme that has to be included within the story. It could be a ride on a train, the hound of the Baskervilles or a visit to 221B Baker Street.
Stories
After all of the cubes were finished, Splodge Design went back to visit all of the groups again to user test the cubes. Select the group below to see the stories created.
Each cube is rolled and a side from each is chosen to form the basis of the story for the group to create.
Explore the collection
Arthur Conan Doyle dressed as a Viking
Arthur Conan Doyle dressed as a Viking for his fancy dress ball.
The Spiritualism Debate
Regarding his strong beliefs, Doyle and Joseph McCabe staged a public debate over their opinions.…
The Adventure of the Creeping Man
A facsimile manuscript of The Creeping Man has been published, on the 90th anniversary of the…
Photo of Kingsley in Uniform
Lieutenant Arthur Alleyne Kingsley Conan Doyle, the son of Arthur Conan Doyle and his first wife…
Black and white still from The Lost World
A reproduction photograph showing a man in conversation with a woman
Completed Quilt of a Copper Beech
Close up of the completed quilt of a copper beech, created by 'Moving Forward'.
Final Problem Stamp Postcard
Royal Mail Stamp Card Series with an illustration and stamp of The Final Problem
Arthur Conan Doyle at his Graduation
Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle taken on the day of his graduation as Bachelor of Medicine at the…
The Coming of the Fairies Map
A map of the Cottingley Beck and Glen.showing where the fairies were 'found'.
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)
Photograph of the Study for Sherlock - finishing touches
Putting the finishing touches to Portsmouth MIND's creation of a Study in Sherlock
Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle On a train in San Francisco, May 1923
Arthur, Jean, Denis, Adrian and Billie Conan Doyle with a companion arrived in USA in March 1923. …
Photograph of Mary, Jean and Dennis Doyle,.
At the Marylebone Sherlock Holmes Exhibition in 1951. (April 2016)
Photograph of Dennis riding a camel
Photo of Conan Doyle's son, Denis, on a camel in Egypt.
Arthur 'Woodie' Woods' costume from TV's Arthur and George
Alfred 'Woodie' Woods costume from the TV series Arthur and George

- 1Arthur Conan Doyle dressed as a Viking
- 2Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle Skiing
- 3The Spiritualism Debate
- 4The Adventure of the Creeping Man
- 5Photo of Kingsley in Uniform
- 6The Lost World, Strand Magazine
- 7Black and white still from The Lost World
- 8Completed Quilt of a Copper Beech
- 9Final Problem Stamp Postcard
- 10Arthur Conan Doyle at his Graduation
- 11The Coming of the Fairies Map
- 12Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle and Louise, in Egypt
- 13Photograph of a Design your own Sherlock
- 14Photograph of the Study for Sherlock - finishing touches
- 15Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle On a train in San Francisco, May 1923
- 16Photograph of Mary, Jean and Dennis Doyle,.
- 17Photograph of Dennis riding a camel
- 18Arthur 'Woodie' Woods' costume from TV's Arthur and George
