Treasures of the Month

The April Fool of Harvey Sluice

Situated above is an image of Palmerstone Road, Portsmouth, in the 1800's. As seen in the distance, St Judes church, still there today. It is possible that Doyle used to shop here.

In 1882, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle moved to Portsmouth into his house in Elm Grove where he settled in to pursue his writing career. That same year in April, the man himself published a short story in the London Society called Bones: The April Fool which was then published by a different company in 1885.

This short story includes a character called Bones and his quest to win a new lady in town, however, it all goes south when Bones' competitor gets in his way.