Statue of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
| Browse information by: Location Makers General Information Classification Object Parts Object Condition History References Photographs |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright for Photograph: Creative Commons |
Location
| Street: | The Cross / Crowborough Hill. |
| Town: | Crowborough |
| Parish: | Crowborough |
| Council: | Wealden District Council |
| County: | East Sussex |
| Postcode: | TN6 |
| Location on Google Map | |
| Object setting: | Road or Wayside |
| Access is: | Public |
| Location note: | Outside shops at the junction with Beacon Road. |
| In the AZ book: | East Sussex |
| Page: | 24 |
| Grid reference: | D8 |
| The A-Z books used are A-Z East Sussex and A-Z West Sussex (Editions 1A 2005). Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd. Sevenoaks. | |
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Makers
| Name : | David Cornell |
| Role: | Sculptor |
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General Information
| Commissioned by: | Crowborough Town Council |
| Construction period: | 2000 |
| Installation date: | 2001 |
| Unveiling date: | 14/04/2001 |
| Work is: | Extant |
| Owner custodian: | Crowborough Town Council |
| Object listing: | Not listed |
| Description: | Bronze full length statue on low concrete plinth, faces south onto the road junction. |
| Signatures: | Signed to the back of the coat, bottom right:
David Cornell 2000 |
| Inscription: | SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE Resident of Crowborough 1907 – 1930 |
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Classification
| Categories: | Sculptural, Free Standing, Commemorative |
| Object type1: | Statue |
| Object type2: | Sculpture |
| Subject type1: | Figurative |
| Subject subtype1: | Standing |
| Subject type2: | Portrait |
| Subject subtype1: | Standing |
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Object Parts
| Part 1: | Plinth |
| Material: | Stone |
| Height (cm): | 40 |
| Width (cm): | 77 |
| Depth (cm): | 60 |
| Part 2: | Statue |
| Material: | Bronze |
| Height (cm): | 190 |
| Width (cm): | 65 |
| Depth (cm): | 60 |
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Object Condition
| Overall condition: | Good |
| Risk assessment: | No known risk |
| Condition 1 of type: | Surface |
| Condition 1: | Metallic staining |
| More details: | Metallic staining to stone plinth from the bronze. |
| Date of on-site inspection: | 22/02/2008 |
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History
| History: | 'Crowborough Town Council erected a statue of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at Cloke’s Corner on 14 April 2001. The statue is unique, being the world’s first public image of the great man himself. It was designed and created by a local sculptor of international renown, David Cornell. Funded by the town council, the project received donations from many sources, including the Daily Mail and the Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment. Mrs Georgina Doyle, wife of Sir Arthur’s nephew, unveiled the statue before a distinguished audience and the vocal appreciation of local townspeople. Visitors arrived from as far away as Japan, America Europe for the special occasion.'
(http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/crowborough/doyle.html) 'A Brief History of The Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment. Having worked without an official title since 1953, The Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment - the title suggested by Dame Jean Conan Doyle - was initiated on 22 May 1989, the 130th anniversary of Sir Arthur's birth, by a small group of enthusiasts seeking to promote further recognition of Conan Doyle. Hence its sub-title ''A Venture To Promote The Life And Works Of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle''. The founder was Malcolm Payne, a retired teacher, educational psychologist and local historian. Some of his relations were members of staff at Windlesham, Sir Arthur's Crowborough residence for 23 years. Sir Arthur gave many items in our memorabilia collection to members of his staff, some of whom later passed them onto Malcolm. With the support of Tony Yates and his wife Marian, then licensees of The Crowborough Cross public house, a bar was turned into The Conan Doyle Room and housed our collection of Conan Doyle photographs, sketches, illustrations, maps, ephemera and archive material. Tony sadly passed away just two weeks before the official inauguration and opening of the room. Until 1995 the collection remained in the room and attracted many visitors, but due to refurbishment we had to remove the collection. Through Malcolm Payne's negotiations with Andrew de Candole, the owner of Groombridge Place, the whole ACD collection was installed as a museum centrepiece there and attracted many visitors from all around the world. The museum was officially opened by Mrs. Georgina Doyle, with Dame Jean Conan Doyle in attendance on 1 July 1995. In a letter to Malcolm Payne, Dame Jean on hearing of the new location for Conan Doyle Collection, and of the memorial in the grounds of Groombridge Place, wrote ''...its good news that the collection would be moving to Groombridge Place. My father went over there whenever we had guests staying at Windlesh am who hadn't stayed before. He was fascinated by the old house and felt that by showing it off to visitors from overseas he was introducing them to the very essence of England. Yes - if your collection cannot be in Crowborough, then Groombridge is quite the most suitable place for it ... a splendid achievement ... (as is) the happy news that there will be a memorial to my father in the gardens of Groombridge Place''. Not only was Sir Arthur a frequent visitor to the house, he also used it as a model for Birlstone Manor in the Holmes adventure The Valley of Fear. The Establishment erected a plaque - the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Memorial - on Terrace Montargis in Crowborough town centre on 23 May 1992. An event jointly hosted with The Crowborough Town Council. Miss Doreen Latter and Mrs. Merle Fielding, the daughters of Mr. William Latter, (chauffeur to Sir Arthur for many years) unveiled the plaque. Dame Jean Conan Doyle and very many visiting societies were in attendance at the reception and unveiling. In the past we have issued various limited first day cover stamps connected with Conan Doyle and Holmes. We have had three publications printed Recollections of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Malcolm Payne (1993) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Groombridge Place by Malcolm Payne and Philip Weller (1995) these are still available. Doctor Arthur Conan Doyle and the Boer War by Philip Weller (2000) sold out soon after publication and is not available. Malcolm Payne the first Curator and Founder passed away on Friday 30 May 1997, but we still provide assistance for those involved in any research into the life of Sir Arthur, his works and his and his family's life in Crowborough. We can also provide talks and guided tours of the area, although it should be noted that access to any properties formerly connected with Sir Arthur is not always available. The work of The Establishment relates primarily to Sir Arthur, his life and works, which includes introducing researchers to not only Sherlock Holmes, but also his other great works. Any costs involved must be covered by the enquirer, as such funds as The Establishment raises, through the sale of publications and donations, are devoted to furthering Doylean scholarship and to the maintenance of the plaque commemorating Sir Arthur, located at Montargis Terrace in Crowborough. The Establishment members were actively involved in the few Sherlock Holmes Festivals that were held in Crowborough. These were reasonably successful but soon lost support and funding and are no longer held. 1999 was the 10th anniversary of our official formation. It was not planned to move the collection, but the opportunity did arise and it meant that we celebrated the anniversary and our new home in one event. It was always Malcolm Payne's wish that one day The Collection would return to the Town of Crowborough and with the greatly appreciated help from Mrs. Alison Banks, the Principal at Beacon Community College, we realised Malcolm's wish. Due circumstances beyond our control the Collection has now been removed and is in storage. The Curator, Brian W. Pugh and Founder Member Richard Creep represented the Establishment on The Conan Doyle Statue Trust. The Trust was set up to raise funds for the Arthur Conan Doyle Statue. With the financial help from the Town Council and various other donations the statue now stands at Cloke's Corner, Crowborough. Our Patron, Mrs. Georgina Doyle unveiled this on 14 April 2001. The Establishment holds informal meetings during the year. 22 May to celebrate the birth of ACD and our AGM, 7 July to remember the passing of ACD. In November we meet for Remembrance Sunday and Pre-Xmas social and meal.' (http://www.the-conan-doyle-crowborough-establishment.com/) |
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References
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Photographs
Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
 Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
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