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Archive
All documents and photographs in the Collection are held in the Archives at Portsmouth Central Library.
All visits are by appointment only.
Please email lancelyngreencollection@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or phone 02392 688043. Please give at least a week's notice
Individuals or families
Visits to the research room include a short introductory session using the archive's handling collection.
Groups or schools
Although researchers are the main visitor type for the archive, we are delighted to welcome small school and/or college groups.
An understanding of documentation and information management is extremely useful in the context of the curriculum.
A brief introduction session can be provided lasting 30min, or longer, interactive workshops are also possible. The recommended maximum number is 20 for schools, possibly more for adult groups, flexibility being at the discretion of the Projects Officer. Teachers/tutors must accompany their groups. Advance booking is essential.
The Arthur Conan Doyle Richard Lancelyn Green bequest offers students the opportunity:
- to explore the everyday existence of Arthur Conan Doyle during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
- to discover the breadth of interests Conan Doyle had during his lifetime.
- to put Conan Doyle’s work into context and extend an understanding of his writing, his world and his legacy.
- to understand the vital importance of 'detective skills', ie research, observation, information management in developing abilities which will benefit pupils throughout their lives.
Individual research
We welcome visitors to access the books and archives in the collection in the Arthur Conan Doyle Research and Study Room in the Central Library in Portsmouth.
If you wish to use the archive materials, you must contact us to make an appointment, explaining what you intend to research and when you would like to visit: we will then be able to confirm your visit, and whether we hold the material you are seeking.
You can contact us at;
Arthur Conan Doyle Collection
Portsmouth History Centre
Central Library
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
PO1 2DX
email: Lancelyngreencollection@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
telephone: +44 (0)23 9281 9311 (Helpdesk) and ask for ‘Conan Doyle Archive’.
Opening times
Please note, to view the archives please email lancelyngreen@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, or telephone 02392 688043 in advance of your visit
Monday - 9.30am-5pm
Tuesday - 9.30am-6pm
Wednesday - 9.30am-6pm
Thursday - 9.30am-6pm
Friday - 9.30am-5pm
Saturday - 10am-3.30pm
Sunday - Closed
Directions by rail
The Collection is easy to reach by train from Portsmouth & Southsea Station.
Exit the station building to the left, through the taxi rank and across the road to Guildhall Square - the library is at the far left, past the Civic Offices
Directions by bus
Portsmouth Central Library is easily accessible by a number of public bus routes.
Use My Journey Portsmouth to plan your visit to Portsmouth Central Library by public transport.
Directions by car
Multimap provides the location of the Archives and allows drivers to create directions.
Explore the collection
Jean, Denis, Adrian and Billie Conan Doyle in Egypt
Photo of Jean, Denis, Adrian and Billie Conan Doyle sitting on camels in front of the sphinx and…
Poster for the play "Sherlock Holmes"
Produced by Charles Fronman and starring William Gillette.
Black and white still from The Lost World
A reproduction photograph showing a man in conversation with a woman
Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle in cricket whites
Arthur Conan Doyle in cricket whites at Stonyhurst, where he went to school, in 1873.
Arthur Conan Doyle dressed as a Viking
Arthur Conan Doyle dressed as a Viking for his fancy dress ball.
Photograph of the Summer Activities Exhibition contents
Details of the exhibition stand in the Central Library
Photograph of Conan Doyle playing cricket at sea
An unusual pitch for a game of cricket - on board RMS Dunottar Castle
Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle standing on the Cumberland Stone
Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle standing on the Cumberland Stone at the site of the Battle of…
Photo of the Doyle Family
Photograph of Arthur, Jean, Denis, Adrian and Billie Conan Doyle at Niagara Falls
Long-Haired Girl Disguise from To Catch a Thief workshop
A long-haired girl with a ‘cute stutter’ is after yet another murderer.
Photo of Dinner at the Grand Hotel
Arthur Conan Doyle presiding at the dinner of the Incogniti Cricket Club at the Grand Hotel in…
Photo of Riversdale, Kent Road, Southsea
'Riversdale' is the former home of Dr John Ward Cousins, a friend and colleague of Sir Arthur Conan…
Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife Jean standing outside the doorway at Bignell Wood, late 1920s
Bignell Wood, near Minstead in the New Forest, was purchased by Arthur for Jean as she loved the…
Photograph of the background for fingerprinted animals
Background image for the children to add their fingerprint animals and images.
Close-up detailing on Quilt of a Copper Beech
Close up details of the completed quilt of a copper beech, created by 'Moving Forward'.
You Don't Know Sherlock Holmes Yet
May 22nd was the birth date of our beloved author, on this date we have held an exhibition named…
Photograph of Conan Doyle taken in Portsmouth
Doyle threw himself into the life of the city and set up his practice in Elm Grove.

- 1Jean, Denis, Adrian and Billie Conan Doyle in Egypt
- 2Poster for the play "Sherlock Holmes"
- 3Black and white still from The Lost World
- 4Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle in cricket whites
- 5Arthur Conan Doyle dressed as a Viking
- 6Photograph of the Summer Activities Exhibition contents
- 7Photograph of Conan Doyle playing cricket at sea
- 8Photo of Arthur Conan Doyle standing on the Cumberland Stone
- 9Study in Scarlet
- 10Photo of the Doyle Family
- 11Long-Haired Girl Disguise from To Catch a Thief workshop
- 12Photo of Dinner at the Grand Hotel
- 13Photo of Riversdale, Kent Road, Southsea
- 14Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife Jean standing outside the doorway at Bignell Wood, late 1920s
- 15Photograph of the background for fingerprinted animals
- 16Close-up detailing on Quilt of a Copper Beech
- 17You Don't Know Sherlock Holmes Yet
- 18Photograph of Conan Doyle taken in Portsmouth
