Not every museum of a literary hero can boast of the authenticity of its location. But the address of the Sherlock Holmes Museum exactly matches what is indicated in the beloved detective work of the English writer. The four-story building that houses the museum is located at 221 b Baker Street. This building, erected in 1815, represents an important historical and architectural value in Great Britain, as it is a reflection of the Victorian style and rightfully complements Her Majesty's list of honor.
House on Baker Street
Obviously, in the past, this building did not receive so much attention, since at the beginning of the 20th century, ordinary furnished rooms were located here. In 1934, this house on Baker Street attracted the attention of the Sherlock Holmes International Society, and the building becomes its property. Many years later, in 1990, on March 27, a museum dedicated to the protagonist of detective stories was opened in this building. Initially, the house in which the museum was located was assigned the number 239, which did not correspond to the address indicated in the work.
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How did a house with such an address appear?
When Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about the famous detective who lived according to the author's plan at 221b Baker Street, a house with such a number did not really exist on this London street.
However, the capital of Great Britain was upset, and this process did not pass Baker Street. Expanding the street with new buildings, construction company Abbey National helped assign new houses numbers 215 to 229. To address the problem, a special firm called 221 b Baker Street was created by attaching a plaque to the facade of the house in which the museum is located. Thus, the exact address of the residence of the literary heroes, beloved by many readers, migrated from the pages of Conan Doyle's work to the London street that actually exists.
Letters to Sherlock Holmes
The popularity of detective stories about the outstanding London detective was so high that readers, believing in the authenticity of his existence, began to write him letters at 221 Baker Street, which the construction company Abbey National had to receive for many years in a row. In order not to offend readers and somehow resolve the situation with numerous correspondence, the company's management decided to formalize the post of secretary for working with incoming letters.
Perhaps this fact was one of the reasons for the creation of the Sherlock Holmes Museum with a real-life address indicated in the beloved work of Conan Doyle. Anyone who wishes to write a letter to Sherlock Holmes, even today, can be sure that the correspondence will be delivered to the exact address indicated and received by the museum staff.
The facade of the museum building is decorated with a signboard, as well as a commemorative plaque, testifying to the residence here from 1881 to 1904 of the outstanding private detective Sherlock Holmes. Similar memorial tablets, testifying to the lived years of this or that real celebrity, can be seen in the walls of certain buildings in many cities of the world. However, in London they went further and honored the hero of a literary work with an honorary "blue plaque".
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with other interesting museums in London.
Holmes apartment interior
Heading to the Sherlock Holmes Museum by subway, museum visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Conan Doyle's stories as they step out onto the Baker Street Station platform. Passengers are immediately struck by the image of the silhouette of Holmes in a characteristic cap and with a constant pipe.
Naturally, getting into the museum, every visitor wants, first of all, to see the apartment of the discerning detective, located on the second floor of the building. Holmes' living room and bedroom are an accurate representation of the Victorian atmosphere. The decoration of the apartment and all the items in it fully correspond to the description of the author. Looking at Holmes's favorite violin, the Turkish shoe in which his tobacco was kept, letters pinned to the fireplace shelf with a penknife, one recalls favorite stories, testifying to the extraordinary intelligence of the owner of this dwelling.
Dr. Watson and Mrs. Hudson's rooms
Having familiarized yourself with the abode of the London detective, it would be unfair not to go up one floor and not see the rooms of his reliable assistant and friend Dr. Watson, as well as the devoted Mrs. Hudson. In Mrs. Hudson's room, a bronze bust of London's chief detective always attracts the attention of visitors.
Here are also his important papers, the Book of Museum Visitors and a large number of letters from readers sent to Holmes. Dr. Watson's room is filled with medical books, paintings, photographs and newspapers from a bygone era. In addition, visitors can see and recognize by description Watson's army revolver.
What can be seen on the 4th floor
The entire fourth floor is at the disposal of the well-known heroes of their favorite detective stories. Their figures are expertly crafted from wax. Each of the readers will easily recognize the Baskervilles' dog, which is terrifying in the heroes of one of the stories, the money-lender Jabez Wilson, the professional beggar Neville Saint-Clair, as well as the main enemy of Sherlock Holmes, the ringleader of London criminals, Professor Moriarty. Unlike many museums, here they are allowed to take pictures, shoot videos, and even offer to sit in the favorite chair of the chief detective in England.
Souvenir shop
On the ground floor there is an office in which Holmes and Watson jointly discussed the details of solving crimes for almost 25 years, as well as a gift shop where museum visitors can buy souvenirs testifying to the habits and character of certain heroes of the famous detective story. Interestingly, in the gift shop there is a photograph of the Russian actor Vasily Livanov, who brilliantly played the role of Sherlock Holmes, for which in 2006 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire.
Sherlock Holmes Museum on the map
Recommended for viewing: Albert Hall in London.
