A walking tour of Martin Beck's Stockholm

I just visiting Stockholm a few weeks ago, and while I was there had another chance to meet with the great Swedish Sherlockian: Mattias Bostrom. Mattias is a true scholar of Doyle, a BSI, the author of 'From Holmes to Sherlock', and co-creator of a series of books tracking newspaper articles on Doyle and Sherlock (published by Wessex Press).

It was another great chance to catch up. The first time we caught up - two years ago - Mattias took me on a walking tour to explore another world. Not a world of gaslight in London, but instead the world of Martin Beck of Stockholm, written by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. 

Mattias spent an entire Saturday with me two years ago, and with a sheaf of notes, a Swedish article, and some printed photos Mattias took me on a tour of locations mentioned in the Martin Beck books. We walked all over Stockholm, and as we went I also took notes and took photos of locations. Mattias actually knew Maj Sjowall from his professional world in book publishing, and so he even had some personal insight from his time speaking to her.

Above: The wonderful Mattias Bostrom in 'tour guide' mode navigating the dangerous streets of Martin Beck's Stockholm.

I've been meaning to turn the walking tour into a blog post so that others can walk in the footsteps of Martin Beck and his colleagues.

There is one piece missing: a map. I'm working on it, and will create a map and add it to this post. The map will show the numbered locations. So the walking tour text below has a brief explanation of what happened at each numbered location (with a few other places along the way!), and photographs to help the reader identify them. 

The original tour Mattias took me on used a Swedish-language article titled (translated from Swedish) 'Sjöwall-Wahlöö's bloody Stockholm', published in the newspaper 'Dagens Nyheter' on 23rd January 1993. We've followed that path, have translated the descriptions (thanks Google) but also added to these and added new locations. Any site can be visited in any order - the numbering is not chronologically aligned with the storyline of the book series - but it does create a path starting at (1) that can be followed.

Without further ado, get to Stockholm and enjoy the Martin Beck walking tour!

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A tour of Sjöwall-Wahlöö's Stockholm

Here in the city, especially in Vasastan, most of the books' gruesome murders and dramatic arrests took place (although Södermalm, Solna, Motala and Skåne also had their fair share of horrors).

We start at Norrtull (1), where terrorists tried to blow up a US Senator (in 'The Terrorists') but were fooled by Martin Beck. The only victims of the attack were 2,091 sandbags, a mountain of insulation material and the cap of Detective Inspector Einar Rönn

Above: The small St Eriksparken (2) is the site of one of the murders in 'The Man on the Balcony'. The third victim in the book, an 11-year-old girl, is found at the edge of the cliff in the north-west of the park. 750 metres further down Norra Stationsgatan, where Norrbackagatan (3) ends, is the site of the mass murder in 'The Laughing Police'. It takes place on a double-decker bus 47, killing nine people, including Martin Beck's young colleague Åke Stenström.

Above: Norra Stationsgatan in 1970, showing a Number 47 double-decker bus.

Above: If you continue across St Eriksplan, you come to Sabbatsberg Hospital (4) - the site of one of the bloodiest murders in the books, where "the dreadful man from Säffle", former police officer Åke Eriksson, in the authors' own words, cuts Inspector Stig Nyman in half.

Above: At left, the Eastman institute, with fountain at front; Right, Dalagatan 34 directly across from the Eastman Institute.

At the Eastman Institute (5), a little further north on Dalagatan, Constable Kristiansson is shot in the knee by Eriksson, who is now sitting in his gallery at the top of Dalagatan 34 (6), determined to shoot every policeman he sees. His colleague Kvant is shot in the neck and dies, on top of Kristiansson, in the fountain outside the Eastman Institute. Gunvald Larsson, who witnesses the incident, manages to escape by kicking in the door of the institute. Later, Eriksson moves to the roof of Dalagatan 34, from where he kills another policeman and wounds seven more - including Martin Beck.

Above: Immediately adjacent to the Eastman Institute is the large Vasaparken (Vasa Park) where the helicopter crashed in "The Abominable Man". (Note that in Bo Widerberg's film adaptation the helicopter crashed in in the nearby Odenplan, a public square).

After this, the tour goes via Odengatan to Sveavägen, to the left at the Hard Rock Cafe - and we are in the middle of the 'Man on the Balcony' drama. Top photos: The balcony itself (7) can be found on the other side of the street, at Number 126. It was from the third balcony down that the Småland man Ingemund Fransson "stood and watched the children". He managed to murder three girls before he was arrested. The first of them, an eight-year-old girl, lived on the other side of the street, at No 83 (8) (Bottom photo, left) - and was found strangled to death a few stone's throw away, in the park called Vanadislunden (9), between St Stephen's Church and the water tower (bottom photo, right). 

Of note, Sjöwall and Wahlöö actually lived at Sveavägen 83, and the plot for the story was partly inspired by an experience when one of their children was approached by a strange man who tried to decoy them away.

Above: At Eriksbergsplan, in the red corner house at Runebergsgatan 2 (10), the police succeed in making an arrest: after a serious police provocation, the Roseanna murderer Folke Bengtsson is lured into trying to murder police officer Sonja Hansson in her home here.

Above: As you walk towards Bergsgatan 57,  you first pass  the Rådhuset (Stockholm Court House) where Martin Beck and his wife were married. Rebecka Lind in The Terrorists was in the District Court there for armed bank robbery.

Above: At Luntmakargatan 57 (11) is the Leopard pharmacy, at no. 57. Upstairs in the courtyard house is probably a new front door. The previous one was one of many that Gunvald Larsson kicked in, in search of the child murderer in "The Man on the Balcony”.

Above: As we walk on, pause to look across at the Kungliga biblioteket (The Royal Library), the Swedish national library. This library houses the original manuscripts (most of them handwritten) of all the Martin Beck stories written by Sjowall and Wahoo.

So we continue.

Above: On Kungsgatan, just before the junction with Norrlandsgatan (12), Martin Beck and Fredrik Melander arrested the mass murderer from the bus in "The Laughing Police" - a property manager from Stocksund. This took place on the 6th floor, probably of the building at left.

Above: At the next junction on Norrlandsgatan, where it intersects with Smålandsgatan (13), the first step in solving the Roseanna murder was taken, when Folke Bengtsson was discovered over a cup of coffee by Officer Lundberg.

Above: We continue towards Old Town, to Köpmangatan (14). Martin Beck moved here to a two-room apartment at the top of No. 8 in 1969, after his divorce. And on the roof a little further up towards Stortorget, the terrorist Reinhard Heydt lay with a sniper rifle, intending to avenge his failed attack by shooting Martin Beck. However, this project did not materialise either.

Above: The Old Town is also home to Martin Beck's favourite restaurant, Den Gyldene Freden (15) at Österlånggatan 51. Den Gyldene Freden translates to ‘The Golden Peace'. The restaurant has been continuously operating at this address in Gamlastan (Old Town) since 1722. 

As we depart Gamlastan, we walk across the bridge to Riddarholmskyrkan (the Riddarholmen Church).

Riddarholmskyrkan is the oldest building in Stockholm, and where Sweden’s Kings were buried (left). There, the visiting US Senator points to the Birger Jarl statue (right). Through the church gate, Rebecka Lind came out and shot the Prime Minister (in ‘The Terrorists’).

Some addresses on Kungsholmen should also be visited. Karlsviksgatan 4 (16) is the site of a puzzling suicide. Fearing the revenge of the Mafia, Sigurd Karlsson, a small-time bus driver, takes his own life in "The fire engine that disappeared". But first he writes Martin Beck's name on a note. 

 

Above: On Bergsgatan 57 (17), a stone's throw from the "National Police Board's showy building", you can try to find the window that is the key to the murder mystery in "The Closed Room". The window in question sits on the top of a staircase, to the right of the gate - and it was through it that Karl Edvin Svärd was shot dead by a bullet from the hill in the park (Kronobergsparken) on the other side of Bergsgatan.

From St Eriksgatan it is then a short step to Norrtull - and we are back where it all began.

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The great thing about blog posts is that they can be edited and updated. If you talk this walking tour, please let me know about suggested updates or edits, additional photos, etc etc. 

Charles Blasson, Doyle's Boer war dresser and secretary

I was recently re-listening to 'Doings of Doyle' podcast on Sarah LeFanu's wonderful 2020 book 'Something of Themselves: Kipling, Kingsley, Conan Doyle and the Anglo-Boer War'. At one point, the hosts remarked on the remarkable existence of Charles Blasson's diary, and its publication. Who was Charles Blasson?

As the Boer war got underway, John Langman funded the creation and staffing of a 50-bed portable hospital that was to be staffed and transported to the war. Arthur Conan Doyle was one of four civilian medical professionals recruited to the hospital (which makes me realize ACD must have maintained his medical license). The hospital operated in Bloemfontein during Doyle's time at the hospital, on the grounds of a cricket club.

Charles Blasson was a student at University Hospital, London and was one of four medical students who set sail for the Boer War in South Africa in Feburary 1900 as dressers. Blasson kept a diary of his experiences on an almost daily basis. Along with being dresser, Blasson became a secretary for Doyle. The diary describes the events and challenges of life in the hospital where typhoid and erysipelas were a risk for soldiers and hospital staff. It also mentions Doyle many times, including Blasson's work on Doyle's chapters for his book on the Boer War. Following Doyle's departure, Blasson died suddenly at Pretoria aged 23 years, and he was buried there on 4 Aug 1900.

Blasson's diary made its way back to his family in the UK after his death, and remained with them. In 2013, family member Ken Cooper transcribed the diary, identified primary sources in other hands including a letter from Doyle, photographs of Blasson, and a photograph of the headstone in South Africa. This work was compiled to create a remarkable record of one young man's role in the Boer War, and also gives us intimate insight into Doyle's time at the Langman Hospital.

The book can be purchased easily at Amazon.com and is well worth reading for all Doyleans or those interested in the Boer War.

Ken Cooper kindly provided some photographs of the Blasson diary. The first shows the Harrods wrapper, and the second shows the inside cover of the open diary, revealing that the wrapper was literally sewn together! Written onto the inside cover is written 'Experiences with the Langman Hospital, South Africa', 1900, C.J. Blasson'.

Ken also shared an image of one page of the diary as an example of Blasson's diary. Transcription would not have been straightforward! I've placed the transcription underneath as an aid. There are several references to Conan Doyle on this page.

May Friday 18th. We hear Kruger has surrendered unconditionally. I had a telegram from Kroonstad from Lionel ; it has been waiting at the post office for a couple of days. We hear this evening that the Kruger report is false, worse luck! Hackney got up today for the first time. Bolton went for a ride today on Major Drury's horse. It galloped away with him, tried to jump a donga and fell and broke one of its knees. Busy Bolton got off with a slight shaking. The staff gave a dinner party this evening. The guests included Prince Francis of Teck, General Wilson the Permanent Medical Officer at Bloemfontein, and General Branant. I sent Uncle Willie a Mafeking post card.

Saturday 19th. I have had a good deal of Doyle's work to get off by this week's mail, also wrote to Mother and Dr. Hackney and Aunt Fannie. Mafeking is relieved at last. We heard so today. This evening Turle, Bolton, Harvey - one of the cooks who is excellent on the banjo - one of the officer's servants named Sergeant had a sing song on our on the strength of the news. We all sang several songs which included Turle 'John Peel', Harvey 'Leave us in your will before you die', myself 'Erin on the Rhine', Bolton 'Beauties Eyes'. We played a football match this afternoon against the Imperial Yeomanry Field Hospital. Conan Doyle was our Captain.

One of the only limitations to the book (and an understandable one) is that the documents and photographs are shown in black and white, not colour. I wanted to take the opportunity to post a few of the records I could track down for those who may go searching for more information on Charles Blasson. I also reached out to Ken Cooper, the compiler and author of the book who may be able to provide some original photographs (for example of the headstone) that I can add to this blog post. As I receive those I'll update the post.

The 1881 Census for England shows Charles aged 3 living with his parents, seven siblings, and three servants. Charles' father was a General Practitioner. As a side-note, I cannot find Blasson in the 1891 census (when he was around 13).

This is the first reference to Blasson in newspapers. Spaulding Grammar School is in Lincolnshire where Blasson grew up:

Peterborough Advertiser - Wednesday 21 February 1900

C. J, Blasson, an old Spalding Grammar School boy, third son of the late, Dr. George Blasson, of Bourne, is shortly proceeding to the front as surgical dresser in the Langman Field Hospital. He was chosen with four other dressers from University College Hospital. 

The Langman Hospital received significant media attention in advance of its departure. This article in 'The Graphic' shows key members of the Hospital. Archie Langman ('Treasurer') was son of the philanthropist who created the Hospital. Among the named personnel are both Blasson and Doyle.

The Graphic - Saturday 24 February 1900

Personnel of the Langman Hospital.  The equipment of this hospital, which consists of 100 beds, with marquees and thirty-five tents, is now complete, and it left England in the Oriental for South Africa last Tuesday. The Langman Hospital, unlike other civil hospitals, is not a base hospital, but is going to the front. Mr. Archie L. Langman (lieutenant Middlesex Yeomanry), son of the donor, accompanies it as treasurer. Mr. Robert O'Callaghan, F.R.C.S., of Harley Street, Surgeon to the French Hospital in London, who is Surgeon-in-Chief, is a Specialist of repute in Abdominal Surgery. As gunshot wounds of the abdomen have been very frequent and serious during the present war, his services will be of special value to our soldiers at the front. Mr. C. Gibbs, F. R.C.S., of Harley Street, Assistant-Surgeon Charing Cross Hospital, is Surgeon Mr. H. J. Scharlieb, F.R.C.S., Harley Street, Anaesthetist to University College Hospital, is Surgeon and Anaesthetist Dr. Conan Doyle is Physician. Messrs. Hackney, Turle, Blasson, Mayes, and Burton, Senior Students and Dressers at University College Hospital, are Dressers. Major M. O'C. Drury, R.A. M.C., who has been appointed by the War Office as the Army Medical Officer in Charge, served in the Soudan Campaign in 1885, and with the Burmese Expedition, 1886-7. Mr. Howell is Quartermaster. There are also twenty Orderlies from the St. John's Ambulance Brigade, the whole personnel numbering forty-five. 

The Hospital was reported in UK newspapers and magazines, and Doyle's service was highlighted. One photograph of Doyle that appeared in The Sketch magazine shows Doyle attending a sick patient, with his dresser at his side. While not named, it is Charles Blasson. Two digitized versions are shown - one from University of Minnesota Library, the other (zoomed in) from British Newspaper Archives (the New York Public Library also has a digitized copy but is slightly inferior).

The Sketch, May 16, 1900

Dr. Conan Doyle of the Langman Hospital, attending sick - but loyal - Canadians in the ward.

Blasson next appears six months after departure when his death is reported in papers. The fact that listed cause of death, unless otherwise defined, was enteric fever speaks volumes of the challenges faced in Bloemfontein from water quality. Blasson was listed as 'driver' but persumably was meant to be 'dresser'.

London Daily Chronicle - Wednesday 08 August 1900

DEATHS FROM DISEASE, &c.
In the following list of deaths the cause, unless otherwise defined, was enteric fever.

At Pretoria. Driver C.G. Blasson 

A week later, more details were forthcoming from South Africa. We also learn a little of Blasson, including that medicine clearly ran in the family, that Blasson's work with Doyle was recognized, and that the family had received a letter from Blasson:

Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Saturday 15 September 1900

DEATH OF A LINCOLNSHIRE SURGEON IN SOUTH AFRICA. The last mail from South Africa brought particulars of the death of Mr. Charles Blasson, son of the of the late Dr. George Blasson, of Bourne, and a nephew of Dr. T. Blasson of Billingborough. The decieased volunteered for the front last February and was selected as one of the surgical dressers for the Langman Field Hospital. He was at Bleomfontein until the end of July, and then went on to Pretoria, where despite the unremitting care and attention of Dr. Scharlieb, of Harley Street, he died of sunstroke on his 23rd birthday. The deceased was accorded a military funeral and was buried amongst British officers at Pretoria, where a marble cross is being erected by his comrades to his memory. Dr. Conan Doyle appointed the deceased gentleman his private secretary in South Africa, and has written a most sympathetic letter home to his friends. He concluded by saying, "He gave his life for his country just as truly as who fell upon the battlefield."

As the above article describes, Blasson had been buried in Pretoria. His comrades did indeed erect a beautiful marble cross in his memory. Ken Cooper kindly provided a photograph of the grave located in the Church Street Cemetery, Pretoria, taken by a visitor to South Africa in 2012.

In memory

C.J. Blasson

Dresser in the Langman Hospital 

Student at University Hospital 

Died suddenly Aug 2nd 1900

Aged 23

This Church Street Cemetery burial register page lists the numbered plots, and the name and abode of each person interred. C.J. Blasson is listed as Driver (Dresser - this is possibly the source of the typo in the newspaper notice above), buried August 4, 1900, two days after his death.

The letter itself is shown in the book. I sources this image from a talk about Doyle in the Boer War by Doug Wrigglesworth, who had purchaesd the letter and showed it during a recorded lecture. Wriggesworth allowed the letter and portraits of Blasson to be included in Cooper's book. The letter was presumably written in the first two weeks of August 1900 - Doyle had already returned to the UK while the Langman Hospital had continued on.

Morley's Hotel,

Trafalgar Square,

London. W.C.

Dear Mrs. Blasson

I want to express to you my heartfelt sympathy with you in your grief over the loss of your son. I could hardly believe the news for of all men in the hospital he is the one whom I should have selected as the strongest and toughest. He was a very fine fellow, always cheery & bright, with a remarkably good head also. I was very fond of him. He has died in the service of his country just as truly as any man who fell upon the field and that is the noblest and most unselfish end a man can meet.

With all sympathy

Yours very truly, A Conan Doyle.

This recognition from Doyle to the Blasson family was not limited to his private correspondence. When Doyle published the first version of his book on the Boer War in October 1900, the preface closed by acknowledging Charles Blasson, who had assisted Doyle in the preparation of chapters in the hospital:

There are many who have helped me in my task, but I especially acknowledge the co-operation of Mr. BLASSON, of the Langman Hospital, now dead in the service of his country, and Mr. CHARLES TERRY, of Haslemere, who collected and arranged my material.

A. CONAN DOYLE

UNDERSHAW, HINDHEAD

September 1900.

As a dresser Blasson would have supported Doyle in the hospital. I find myself wondering how exactly Blasson helped Doyle in his task of creating a history of the Boer war. Even in the diary extract above, Blasson states 'I have had a good deal of Doyle's work to get off by this week's mail'.

There is some insight from Doyle's writings.

In his Preface to his published book 'The Great Boer War', Doyle writes 'The greater part {of this book} was written in a hospital tent in the intervals of duty during the epidemic at Bloemfontein. Often the only documents which I had to consult were the convalescent officers and men who were under our care'.

Perhaps part of Blasson's role was to prepare notes for Doyle based on the interviews he conducted with patients, and conversations with VIPs who visited the hospital. While Doyle embarked on field trips, it appears Blasson was largely restricted geographically to the hospital where his primary responsibilities lay. 

Doyle's chapters of the book were likely written by him and mailed to the UK - not typed up in South Africa. Blasson's diary entry suggests he also managed this correspondence and arranged for the despatch of letters that Doyle wrote.

Six Napoleons of Baltimore dinner - 26th September 2025

The Six Napoleons of Baltimore met at its now-traditional venue - the Maryland Club. This meeting had a wonderful group of out-of-town visitors - and it was pointed out that there were over forty attendees, remarkable growth and a return to the glory days thanks to Greg Ruby's work to create a sense of occasion around the meetings. 

The agenda was as follows:

What a room! Toasts were delivered by P.J. Sullivan (NH), Lauren Cercone, Karen Wilson, and Liane Luini. Liane used a toast written by Paul Churchill which was very touching.

We then moved into the dining room.... yet another beautiful room! This was Karen Wilson's last meeting as Gasogene of the Six Napoleons (more of that later). We stood on the terrace for two recently deceased Napoleons (George White CLII, and Ken McQuage CLXV), and then tucked into dinner.

To be indicted as a Napoleon, one needs to accomplish several things. The first of these is to withstand the inquisition. 'Postulants' are examined by a group of Napoleons, to determine whether their knowledge of the Canon is up to scratch. The inquisitors then report to the group, with great humor, on the performance of those postulants.

Another requirement is to deliver a paper at a Six Napoleons dinner. There were two papers delivered. The first was by Bob Sharfman BSI, who seditiously distributed 'Vote for Moriarty' pins at the opening of his presentation! 

Steve Doyle then spoke about Lord Peter Wimsey and Sherlock Holmes. This covered two of my favorite people in one talk. Even better, Steve strayed into Wodehouse and drew a parallel between Bunter and Jeeves. Really delightful, and I hope Steve will publish this paper at some point.

A delightful feature of each meeting is the recitation of 'A Musgrave Ritual'. Mike McSwiggin, a Maryland native, stepped up for this, then stripped off to reveal an Orioles shirt with a big reveal on the back:

Not bad for a pharmacist ;)

THREE new Napoleons were inducted - Bob Sharfman, Steve Doyle, and Ray Betzner (all BSIs and now Napoleons also). Congratulations and welcome to each of them!

The evening ended with the announcement of the new Gasogene. Each Gasogene serves a two-year term, and Karen Wilson announced that the Gasogene for 2026/2027 will be Henry Wegrocki. I managed to capture Karen and Henry at the exact moment that power transferred. Congratulations to Henry, and thank you to Karen for leading the Six Napoleons through their first two years of this new meeting format.

The meeting provided an opportunity for seven of eight members of an elite unit to gather together. 

The Dancing Men Scourers: Front: Greg Ruby BSI, Back left to right: Ross Davies BSI, Olivia Millunzi, Victoria Wood, Bruce Harris BSI, Ira Matetsky BSI, the author.

There was no mistaking it for anything but a newly-dug grave

This is a little unusual as a post, but I thought I'd catalog the final resting places of early Sherlockians. This idea partly came to me when I was recently writing about John Bennett Shaw (more of which some other day) and spent some time seeking out at his grave (digitally unfortunately).

It made me wonder - do any of those Sherlockians have an indicator on their grave of their great interest? Or some other symbology representing aspects of their life and beliefs? It also struck me that this could be the start of a list of sites to visit... a bucket bucket list, if you will.

Let's take a look at some, in roughly chronological order.  NOMINATE SHERLOCKIANS YOU'D LIKE ME TO ADD TO THIS LIST.

Arthur Conan Doyle. Technically, a Scottish Sherlockian.

The grave of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 – 1930), creator of the world's most famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, is under a large tree in Minstead churchyard in the New Forest District, Hampshire, England. This is Doyle's second grave. He was first buried at Windlesham Manor, then moved around 1955. 

Steel true, Blade straight

Arthur Conan Doyle, Knight

Patriot, Physician, & Man of Letters

22 May 1859 - 7 July 1930

And his beloved wife

Jean Conan Doyle

Reunited 27 June 1940

It's interesting that Jean is listed as reunited.... I assumed they were in constant contact through seance after Doyle's death.

Sidney Edward Paget. The famous English illustrator of Sherlock. 

The grave of Sidney Paget (1860 – 1908), the man who created the first famous images of Sherlock Holmes, is buried in East Finchley Cemetery in the north of London, England.

To the

dear memory of

Sidney Paget

who died January 28th. 1908,

aged 47 years.

"Until the day dawn."

And of Edith, his wife.

1865-1942

Two other sides of the grave marker indicate two children buried at the same plot: "And of Leslie Robert, Their Son 1894-1942. Died on Active Service." and "And of Beryl May Their Daughter 1902-1955".

George Newnes. The published of the Strand Magazine.

The grave of Sir George Newnes, 1st Baronet (1851 – 1910), the man who founded the Strand Magazine and brought the short stories of Sherlock to the world, is buried in Lynton Old Cemetery, Lynton, North Devon District, Devon, England. 

In loving memory of 

Sir George Newnes, BarT, MP

Hollerday Hill Lynton Devon

Died June 9, 1910

Aged 58 years

Frederic Dorr Steele. The famous American illustrator of Sherlock.

The grave of Frederic Dorr Steele (1873 – 1944), the man who immortalized the image of Sherlock in America, is buried in Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany County, New York, USA. Now here is a grave with a Sherlock reference! The headstone is not contemporary to the time of Steele's burial. In 2020 the Frederic Dorr Steele Memorial Committee formed to create and install a grave marker at the site where his ashes had been interred.

 

Frederic Dorr Steele 

Aug 6 1873 - July 6 1944

Artist, Illustrator, Sherlockian

Thanks to Harrison Terry Hunt for providing a high-quality photograph of Steele's grave marker.

William Hooker Gillette. American actor who immortalized Holmes on the stage.

The grave of William Gillette (1853 – 1937), the man who first popularized Holmes on the stage and served as the inspiration of illustrators and later actors, is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA. Shown at right are Sherlockians with the newly cleaned graves in 2022.

 

WILLIAM GILLETTE

Born July 24 1853

Died April 29 1937

Ronald Arbuthnott Knox. An Anglican chaplain then Catholic priest who published the first Sherlockian paper.

The grave of Ronald Knox (1888-1957), the man who wrote the first Sherlockian essay, the 'golden rules of the author of detective story', and wrote detective fiction. Knox is buried in St Andrews Cemetery, Mells, Somerset, England.

RONALD ARBUTHNOT KNOX

PRIEST SCHOLAR

PREACHER & WRITER

HE SPENT THE LAST

YEARS OF HIS LIFE

IN MELLS

HERE FINISHED HIS

TRANSLATION OF

THE BIBLE

AND HERE DIED

THE 21st AUGUST 1857

AGED 69 YEARS

PRAY FOR HIS SOUL

Edgar Wadsworth Smith. The famous American Sherlockian. 

The grave of Edgar W Smith (1894 – 1960), the man who wrote early influential articles, self-published via his imprint 'The Pamphlet House', led the Baker Street Irregulars, founded the Baker Street Journal and was its first editor. In 'real life' Smith was prominent as Vice-President of General Motors. Smith is buried in New Vernon Cemetery, New Vernon, Morris County, New Jersey, USA.

Edgar Wadsworth Smith

Apr 1 1894 - Sept 17 1960

To me, this is an eminently American grave marker, with minimal information and no biographical details. It is in some ways surprising that someone as successful as Smith would have such a modest marker.

Christopher Morley. The famous Anerican founder of the Baker Street Irregulars. 

The grave of Christopher Morley (1890 – 1957), the man who founded the Baker Street Irregulars, and well-known author and journalist. Morley is buried in Roslyn Cemetery, Roslyn, Nassau County (Long Island), New York, USA.

Christopher Morley

Born Haverford, Penna.

May 5, 1890

Died Roslyn, New York

March 28, 1957

Edith Meiser. American actor and author.

The grave of Edith Mesier (1898-1993), the woman best-known for creating the first Sherlock Holmes radio play series from 1930 onwards. Her resting place is:

NOT KNOWN

Harold Wilmerding Bell. Early American Sherlockian author.

The grave of H.W. Bell (1885-1947), the American author of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Chronology of Their Adventures (1932), and an archaeologist. Bell is buried at Green-Wood Cemetery, Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn, New York, USA, in the 'Bell' family plot that includes parents and grandparents.

 

The photograph available appears to show the grave marker partially overgrown, and it deserves to be tracked down today and cleared away!

Charles Vincent Emerson Starrett. Canadian/American Sherlockian, author, and bibliophile. 

The grave of Vincent Starrett (1886 – 1974), the man who wrote 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes', Sherockian, bibliophile. Starrett is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Ray Betzner created a lovely blog post on the cemetery, Starrett's grave, and other nearby important graves (such as Alan Pinkerton).

There's also a wonderful book by Don Izban titled 'Sherlock Holmes Visits a Cemetery' (Battered Silicon Despatch Box, 1999) that highlights graves in Gracelands Cemetery. The centerpiece is Starrett, but it also includes the Allan Pinkerton grave among others.

Philip St. John Basil Rathbone. Actor.

The grave of Basil Rathbone (1892 – 1967), South African/English actor and the face of Sherlock on the big screen. Rathbone is interred in the Shrine of Memories Mausoleum at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.

 

Basil Rathbone

1892-1967

There is some information about how to find Rathbone's resting place at this site.

James Stephens Montgomery. American Sherlockian singer.

James Montgomery (1898-1955), a renowned singer, released a recording of Baker Street songs and created Christmas annuals. Stephens is interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Montgomery

James Stephens

1898-1955

William Baring-Gould. The creator of the first annotated Sherlock Holmes.

The grave of William Baring-Gould (1913 – 1967), the man who created the first annotated Sherlock Holmes,  chronologist, and author of a fictional biography of Holmes. In real life, he was a creative director at Time Magazine. Baring-Gould is buried in Pound Ridge Cemetery, Pound Ridge, Westchester County, New York, USA.

NO PHOTO

John Bennett Shaw. The legendary Sherlockian collector. 

The grave of John Bennett Shaw (1913 – 1994), the man who made evangelized, corresponded, and collected Sherlockiana. Shaw is buried in Rosario Cemetery, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, USA.

SHAW

John Bennett Oct. 10, 1913 - Oct. 3, 1994

Dorothy Rowe Apr. 29, 1924 - Nov. 24, 1999

Catherine Mary Nov. 20, 1951 - Dec. 6 2010

Sir Sydney Castle Roberts. British academic and writer.

The grave of S.C. Roberts, author of the first study about Sherlock Holmes (Doctor Watson, 1931), considered the starting point of the Sherlockian studies, has not been identified yet. Roberts was cremated at the Cambridge Crematorium and a final resting place for his ashes has not yet been found.

In the cremation register it states under 'How ashes were disposed of':

Richard Cabell. The man who inspired the curse of the Baskervilles.

The mausoleum of Richard Cabell III (?? - 1672), the squire whose behavior inspired the legend of the Hound of the Baskervilles. Cabell is interred with his father and grandfather at Buckfastleigh churchyard, Buckfastleigh, Devon, England.

  "This tomb was built in 1656 by the third Richard Cabell, Lord of the Manor of Buckfastleigh, for his grandfather (died 1613) and father (died 1655). All three Richard Cabells are commemorated on the slab on top of the tomb. In the course of time many legends grew up on an evil man who sold his soul to the devil. These legends may be based partly on the third Richard Cabell, but there is little foundation for most of the stories. However these tales were promoted both by local legend, (e.g. that the iron grille was to ensure Cabell's spirit could not escape), and by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, (particularly stories of foul deeds and terrible black dogs), in researching for his novel, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'."

Sherlock Holmes. The first Sherlockian? Date of death and grave not yet identified. Have checked Swiss cemetery registers - no luck there.