This idyllic cottage in New Hampshire, England was home to Sherlock Holmes' writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – but rumours say the writer still haunts the place...
Calling all Sherlockians: the country house at Brook near Lyndhurst, known as Bignell Wood, that once belonged to the creator of Sherlock Holmes is now up for sale at almost £3 million.
According to BBC, the acclaimed author fell in love with the New Forest, where the property is located, when he visited while researching his historical adventure novel The White Company. He ended up buying this home as a birthday gift for his second wife Jean and stayed there regularly before he passed away.
The plot Sir Arthur bought was originally an old Saxon barn with two cottages, but he teamed up with a local architect to transform it into the elegant country house it is today. According to listing agency Spencer, the house has eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms and 10 living rooms. Other amenities include a terrace, music studio, a greenhouse, a barn with three stables, six acres of woodlands surrounding the house and more. The property even has its own private wooden walkway across the stream, with a winding path that leads to the entrance.
When the current owner, interior designer Jane McIntyre, took over the place, she rescued it from distress and restored it to its former glory, all while honouring Sir Arthur’s legacy. She painted a room many believed he wrote in to a deep red colour, a nod towards his book A Study in Scarlet, while the a deer head the writer left behind still mounts the wall in another room.
In the dining room, an image of the writer hangs on a wall, with an inscription written by his daughter saying: “I would love this picture of my father to hang in Bignell Wood. He was always very happy here.”
But if you’re the sort to believe in the supernatural, locals around the area believe Sir Arthur’s presence can felt in more ways than one… According to BBC, a former resident claims she once saw his ghost in her room, while other say that they’ve heard footsteps in the attic as well. Apparently the author used to carry out seances in the house. You can find out more about the property on its official listing here.
