You are here: Visit > Archive
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
Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle ice skating
Conan Doyle and his wife ice skating in Switzerland.
Connection to Sidney Paget
Sidney Paget was best known for the first drawing or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. (February 2018)
Photo of Professor Challenger from the 1925 production of The Lost World
Wallace Beery as Professor Challenger restraining an unidentified man.
June 1912 edition of the Strand Magazine
The June 1912 edition of the Strand magazine featuring an episode from Doyle's the Lost World.
Summer Holidays - Conan Doyle Exhibition - Central Library Portsmouth June 2016
This exhibition was mounted to reflect Conan Doyle’s love of adventure and sport. (August 2016)
Sherlock and Watson in disguise
Illustration of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in disguise
Arthur 'Woodie' Woods' costume from TV's Arthur and George
Alfred 'Woodie' Woods costume from the TV series Arthur and George
Basil Rathbone Poster
Poster for the film Pursuit to Algiers (1945) starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.
Adrian and Dennis Boxing
Doyle's sons followed in their father's sporting footsteps. Here they are boxing. (June 2017)
Photograph of Bush Villas, Elm Grove, Southsea
Conan Doyle arrived in Portsmouth in 1882. After research he chose Bush Villas in Elm Grove,…
Photograph of the Study for Sherlock - a work in progress
Portsmouth MIND's creation of a Study in Sherlock is coming together.
Photo of the 1928 Lost World film cast
An exciting and visual tale,The Lost World provided an appealing subject for filming, the first…
Photo of the Display stand at the Fratton Community Centre
Exhibition case featuring objects and documents from the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection.
Dancer Disguise from To Catch a Thief workshop
Curly-haired dancer in a pink feather boa is trying to discover the killer of her fellow-dancer,…
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 William Gillette (1853 – 1937)
The first actor to play Sherlock Holmes on stage (February 2012)

- 1Photograph of Conan Doyle swimming
- 2Souvenir of Reichenbauch Falls
- 3Photograph of Arthur Conan Doyle ice skating
- 4Connection to Sidney Paget
- 5Photo of Professor Challenger from the 1925 production of The Lost World
- 6June 1912 edition of the Strand Magazine
- 7Summer Holidays - Conan Doyle Exhibition - Central Library Portsmouth June 2016
- 8Sherlock and Watson in disguise
- 9Arthur 'Woodie' Woods' costume from TV's Arthur and George
- 10Basil Rathbone Poster
- 11Adrian and Dennis Boxing
- 12Photograph of Bush Villas, Elm Grove, Southsea
- 13Photograph of the Study for Sherlock - a work in progress
- 14Photo of the 1928 Lost World film cast
- 15Photo of the Display stand at the Fratton Community Centre
- 16Dancer Disguise from To Catch a Thief workshop
- 17Photo of Conan Doyle in the Garden at Bignell Wood
- 18Photo of William Gillette (1853 – 1937)
