Arthur and George

A joint exhibition from The Conan Doyle Collection, at Portsmouth City Council, and the ITV production which starred Martin Clunes as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which first aired in March 2015.

The novel and series were based on an intriguing series of true events in the life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Author of the famous Sherlock Holmes detective novels, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was an excellent detective himself. He was also a staunch supporter of justice. These threads came together in the case of George Edalji

Edalji was wrongly convicted of mutilating horses and it was thanks to Conan Doyle's tireless investigations that the conviction was overturned.

The Conan Doyle Collection holds copies of the letters Conan Doyle wrote to the newspapers about the Edalji case. Volunteers at the Collection chose a selection of these to display in the case at Southsea Library. They showed Sir Arthur acting as a real-life detective. Find out more about the George Edalji case

The exhibition was part of the Heritage Lottery Funded project which allowed community groups and schools to produce exhibitions across the city celebrating Arthur Conan Doyle's connection with Portsmouth.

As well as material from the archive there was also a display of original costumes from the ITV drama. Click on each image to see a larger version (opens in a new window).

More Exhibitions to explore

• A Study for Sherlock - reproducing Sherlock Holmes' study at 221b Baker Street

• Conan Doyle - A Good Sport - Conan Doyle's wide ranging sporting interests

• Conan Doyle - The Pompey Lad - Conan Doyle's time in Portsmouth

• Conan Doyle on Holiday - due to his success as a writer, Conan Doyle had the opportunity to travel widely. He often took his family. This exhibition explores the places they visited.

• Dinosaurs, Fairies and Conan Doyle - Conan Doyle's interest in science, and fairies

• Gripping Yarns - story writing in the style of Sherlock Holmes

• The Lost World - Conan Doyle's science fiction novel

• Playing Sherlock - improvised plays based upon Sherlock Holmes

• Sherlock Holmes Fandom - Sherlock Holmes has fans from around the world

• Stitching a Story - stitching a quilt based upon The Adventure of the Copper Beeches

• The Cottingley Fairies - Conan Doyle's interest in fairies inspired Bunny Warren Nursery to create their own fairies

• To Catch a Thief - masks and disguises inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s story Charles Augustus Milverton

• You Don't Know Sherlock Holmes Yet -  a wide ranging exhibition featuring items and documents from the Collection. This exhibition covers Conan Doyle's life and works, including his arrival in Portsmouth, his books, his fights for justice and the phenomena that is Sherlock Holmes.

To see more images and find out more about The Conan Doyle Collection, please email: sherlock.holmes@portsmouthcc.gov.uk