A Petition to Support Grade II Status for Undershaw

by Scott Monty December 23, 2009

"sombre face of the old house" [VALL]

And now for something completely different - an I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere post that's not about the movie.

Alexian Gregory, BSI ("The Grimpen Postmaster") has forwarded along a petition to help save Undershaw, the home that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's designed in 1897 and in which he wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1902. The home is now in danger of falling into the hands of developers, as it has not achieved the appropriate grade for saving as an historic home.

You can click here to view the petition and sign it electronically. If you choose, you can also donate a nominal amount through PayPal. The text of the petition is here:

'Undershaw' the former home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes and spiritualist's greatest ambassador is under threat from the property developers who plan to split the house up and build apartments in the heart of the Surrey countryside in the middle of National Trust land. The organisation Hindhead Together and many local supporters would like to see this historical house restored to it's former glory and opened to the public as a museum and tea rooms welcoming visitors worldwide.

The developers are due to submit their plans to the planning department very shortly. This petition is to object to private residential dwellings and to prevent 'Undershaw' from being split up and to retain public access to the grounds and building.

It is intended to forward this petition to Russell Morris, the Historical Buildings Officer of the local planning office as and when the plan for the housing complex becomes registered.

Mr John Gibson FRICS has set up and registered 'The Undershaw Preservation Trust' with the government as a Museum and Cafeteria. We desperately need your help, please visit the blog to find out how you can help us support this valuable cause.