Conan Doyle and Dr Reginald Hoare of Aston, Birmingham

In my last post, I looked at Doyle's medical assistantship postings, and their chronology:

• Summer of '78: 'Dr. Richardson, running a low-class practice in the poorer quarters of Sheffield'
• Four months: 'Dr. Elliot living in a townlet in Shropshire which rejoiced in the extraordinary name of “Ruyton-of-the-eleven-towns.”'
• 1879: Dr. Hoare, a well-known Birmingham doctor, who had a five-horse City practice.
• 1880: 7 months on board whaler 'Hope' to Arctic as ship's surgeon
• Oct 1881 - Jan 1882 on board 'Mayumba' to Africa as ship's surgeon 
• Mar 1882: Re-visits Dr. Hoare in Birmingham doctor 
• May 1882: Brief stint with Budd before setting up independently in Southsea 

I wanted to look at references to Doyle in Birmingham at the time or afterwards:

A number of letters to Reginald Hoare from Doyle exist - and some are abstracted in 'Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters'. These letters demonstrate first-hand a continued connection with the family. This letter is from March/April 1891 when Doyle had arrived in London, and it implies in the last line that Doyle spent Christmas 1890.

1891 letter - from Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters
to Dr Reginald Ratcliff Hoare

2 Upper Wimpole Street, London

March/April 1891

Just a line to say that I have got into my quarters here & have fairly settled down to work. I wish you could run down & have a look at my Consulting Room & give me a word of advice generally. We are lodging at 23 Montague Place, Russell Square (Gower Street is the nearest station). We can put Amy & you up nicely if you could run down. I had good opportunities at Vienna & Paris & as I have now hooked on at the Westminster Ophthalmic I shall keep up to date. Drop me a line to let me know if you can come. My love to Amy & to as many of the Xmas household as still remains.

Hoare died in 1898. He deserves his own biography, and I'm working on that. This obituary in the British Medical Journal covers his professional accomplishments, and notes that ACD did not attend the funeral, but did write to the family.

 

Br Med J 1898;1:989

DR REGINALD RATCLIFF HOARE, FRCS Edin, of Aston Road North, Birmingham, whose death on March 23rd is announced, was highly esteemed in the neighbourhood in which he practised. He had been in failing health for a year, and has been confined to bed for four months before his death. Last Christmas his patients and friends presented to him a testimonial of the value of over 200 pounds. Dr. Hoare, who obtained the diplomas of L.S.A. in 1866, of L.F.P.S.G. in 1878, and of F.R.C.S.Edin. in 1879, was, on first going to Birmingham, appointed Resident Medical Officer to the Birmingham Lying-in-Hospital. He was subsequently appointed Honorary Surgeon to the industrial school, Gem Street, and also Honorary Medical Officer to the Aston Fire Brigade. His funeral was attended by a large number of friends, and among those who sent tokens of their respect was Dr. Conan Doyle.

When Doyle married for a second time in 1907, Dr. Hoare's family members attended the wedding. I haven't identified the exact relationship of Mr. Ratcliffe-Hoare to Dr. Reginald Hoare, but will.

Daily Telegraph & Courier (London) - Thursday 19 September 1907

{The full article not transcribed - the key point being:}

Among those present were:

Mr. and Mrs. Ratcliffe-Hoare

These stories are tales of Doyle from his time at Birmingham, one from 1910, and two after his death. They give insight into how memorable Doyle was, his fiery temper, and his skill as a boxer. They also highlight how proud Aston / Birmingham was of their connection to Doyle.

Musselburgh News - Friday 14 October 1910

SIR CONAN DOYLE AND THE RADICAL.

The following story is related of Sir Conan Doyle in a contemporary which recalls the fact that the creator of Sherlock Holmes was at one time assistant to the late Dr Hoare, of Aston Road North, and it was while he was thus engaged that he first took to writing short stories. These were not intended for publication at the time, but were compiled chiefly for the engagement of the doctors children who were particularly partial to the famous author, not because he was in the habit of interesting them with thrilling stories, but because of his genial personality. At this time the doctor was in the habit of putting in an occasional appearance at the smoke room of a certain hostelry famous for its political debaters. Each night discussions on the great questions of the day were carried on by the old cronies who frequented the house and now and then Dr Conan Doyle would have his say. One evening a certain speaker belonging to the advanced Radical party ventured. in the course of his speech, to make disrespectful reference to her late Majesty Queen Victoria. Whatever his points may have been, the Doctor was a loyalist to the backbone, and no sooner had the speaker uttered his ill-favoured remark than the Doctor jumped to his feet and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the objectionable words. The Radical at first declined to retract, but when he saw that the creator of Sherlock Holmes was determined to give him a thrashing unless he complied with the demand, the words were withdrawn and apologised for, and the Doctor was satisfied.

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 16 August 1933

SPARRED WITH CONAN DOYLE

Ex-Footballer's "Souvenir"

An interesting picture of life in Birmingham 60 years ago is presented by the memories of Mr George Barber, of 527 Bromford Lane.

Bout With Conan Doyle. 

While a member of the Lion Gymnasium young Barber fell in with a hefty youth nicknamed Piggy Doyle, who was assistant to Dr Reginald Hoare next door. One day, in the course of sparring bout, "Piggy" landed a blow which considerably damaged his opponent's nose. "That," says the victim with some pride, "is my souvenir to-day of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."

Birmingham Mail - Saturday 21 April 1956
Sixpence a bottle 

Last week's unveiling of a commemorative plaque on Clifton House, Aston Road North, where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle began his medical and literary careers was of special interest to Mr Rupert Doyle Hunter, of Erdington.

Conan Doyle was assistant to Dr Reginald Hoare, whose private residence was at Ratcliff Lodge, Sutton Street, Aston Manor. On his death in 1898 this was taken over by Mr Hunter’s late father Dr Rupert Hoare Hunter who acted coassistant with Conan Doyle at Clifton House, under Dr. Hoare, his cousin.

Conan Doyle once described Dr. Hoare as a demon for hard work. He was said to have made £3000 a year, mostly by selling sixpenny bottles of medicine to the poor of Aston. 

"I was told by my father’’ Mr Hunter writes “that Conan Doyle used his spare time at Aston by indulging in practical jokes and writing short stories for Dr Hoare’s children, Cecil and Josephine. On the advice of my father, he submitted his stories to ‘Chambers’s Journal' and to Doyle’s amazement his second story was accepted. He received a cheque for three guineas.” 

Note: That plaque, and the building Clifton House, now longer remains. The replacement building has a new plaque.