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.