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Ships, Shanties and the Shingle of Southsea
September 12, 2025 - September 14, 2025
‘On Portsmouth Jetty’ with The Sherlock Holmes Society of London
12th-14th September 2025
‘These are very deep waters’
This Autumn, the SHSL will be following in the footsteps of Dr Watson who landed ‘on Portsmouth Jetty’ when he returned from active service in Afghanistan. The area obviously held fond memories for the Good Doctor, for he would later yearn for ‘the glades of the New Forest or the shingle of Southsea.’
‘There is a great garret in my little house that is stuffed with books’
Pompey’s reputation as a key destination for Sherlockian pilgrims was cemented when the Society’s own Richard Lancelyn Green bequeathed his unparalleled Conan Doyle collection to the City of Portsmouth in 2004. We will have privileged access to the collection during our stay, including visits to the strong rooms at the Central Library and the Museum galleries. We’ll also see the original manuscript of The Adventure of the Creeping Man.
‘Among the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the effects’
There will also be an opportunity to explore the city’s Naval heritage with an expedition to see The Mary Rose at the Historic Dockyard, just a pebble’s throw from our base at the Royal Maritime Hotel. We’ll view the remains of the Tudor warship and ponder the mysterious circumstances of her sinking in the sixteenth century.
Events will conclude on Sunday with a walking tour which will take in the Lancelyn Green displays at the Portsmouth museum and sites of interest associated with Conan Doyle’s time as a resident in the town.
So, join us for a Naval Treat that’s not to be missed!
Provisional Programme as per June 2025
Confirmed participants will receive a final programme ahead of the weekend. As always, the programme may be subject to change.
Friday, 12 September 2025
| Mid to late afternoon | Arrival and individual check in at Royal Maritime Hotel, 75-80 Queen Street, Portsmouth PO1 3HS |
| 18.30 | Welcome drinks in The Compass Room at the Royal Maritime Hotel, with entertainment from The Portsmouth Shantymen to get attendees in a maritime mood. |
| 19.30 | Fish & Chip Dinner in The Nelson Lounge at the Royal Maritime Hotel (vegetarian / vegan options available).
Speaker details tbc |
| Overnight at Royal Maritime Hotel |
Saturday, 13 September 2025
| 07.30 – 9.30 | Breakfast served in the Restaurant, Royal Maritime Hotel |
| 10-12.30 | Visit to the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection Lancelyn Green Bequest at Portsmouth Guildhall. We have exclusive use of the Menuhin Theatre for a talk from staff at the collection. In addition, we will be given privileged access to the strong rooms and the stacks. Choice items from the collection will be displayed for our perusal with staff on hand to assist and answer questions. |
| 12.30-13.15 | A buffet lunch will be served in the Menuhin Theatre at the Guildhall. |
| 14.00 onwards | We will visit the famous Mary Rose at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Dockyard staff will give us a talk about the mysterious sinking of Henry VIII’s favourite warship. |
| 19.30 | Dinner in the Nelson Lounge at the Royal Maritime Hotel. Speaker details tbc. |
| Overnight at Royal Maritime Hotel. |
Sunday, 14 September 2025
| 07.30-10.00 | Breakfast served in the Restaurant, Royal Maritime Hotel |
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Check out by 11.00 – luggage may be left securely with the Hotel |
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| 10.30-12.30 | A walking tour of sites of interest, including the items from the RLG collection at Portsmouth Museum, The Phoenix Lodge (attended by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle when living in Southsea) and the site of Conan Doyle’s residence and surgery at Bush Villas. |
| 13.00 | The weekend concludes with a carvery lunch in the restaurant at the Royal Maritime Hotel. |
| We hope you will join us! | |
Price per person, what is included, what is not included:
Per person in a double, twin or single en suite bedroom (as usual there is no single supplement): £370 including:
- Two nights bed and breakfast accommodation at The Royal Maritime Hotel
- Drinks reception on the Friday night
- Dinner on both nights
- Buffet lunch at the Guildhall on Saturday
- Carvery lunch at the Hotel on Sunday
- All activities as listed above
What is not included:
- Any insurance for cancellation fees, accident etc. – insurance is every participant’s own responsibility.
- Drinks, tea/coffee are notincluded and must be paid separately
- Travel to and from Portsmouth
- Access to attractions at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard other than the Mary Rose Museum
Further important information
Parking & Travel
- The Hotel has 20 parking bays on the front and side of the hotel free of charge at the front of the hotel. Additional on-street parking is also available, and permits can be purchased at reception for a small fee. The car park type is open air/surface. The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 200cm x 480cm (6ft 7in x 15ft 9in) and it is located 13m (14yd) from the main entrance. The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
- Portsmouth Harbour station is a stone’s throw from the Royal Maritime Hotel. South Western railway run trains regularly from London Victoria and London Waterloo.
Reservations
We have secured rooms for around 40 participants. We strongly recommend you book as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
A questionnaire will be circulated to check special dietary requirements, mobility issues etc. but if you have any concerns or queries, please contact Tom Atkinson at tommoatkinson@btinternet.com
