On Thursday, 30th October, the official unveiling took place of a commemorative sign that had been installed at Crowborough station in East Sussex to commemorate its association with the British writer and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

In a partnership between Crowborough Town Council, the South East Communities Rail Partnership, and train operator Southern, the commemorative sign recognises Crowborough’s connection to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his creation of Sherlock Holmes, as well as his contribution to crime fiction as a genre.

Attending the official unveiling were Richard Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s great nephew, Crowborough Town Mayor Councillor Natalie Whittle, Chair of the Uckfield and East Grinstead Community Rail Partnership, Paul Goddard and Southern Station Manager, Josh De Angelis Taylor, together with members of local community organisations and others associated with Doyle.

Cllr Whittle, Mayor of Crowborough Town Council, hoped that the board would spark curiosity and demonstrate that one person’s commitment to a place and its voluntary organisations can make a lasting difference.

From 1903 to 1930, Sir Conan Doyle, who is best known for creating Sherlock Holmes, lived at Windlesham Manor near Crowborough, and spent his last 23 years there.

As part of the nationwide celebration of the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, members of the South East Communities Rail Partnership have been finding out about the history of railways in the area, and have displayed the results of their research at Crowborough station.

Southeast Communities Rail Partnership works with five train operators, Network Rail, local authorities, community representatives and dedicated volunteers at 112 stations on ten lines across East and West Sussex and parts of Surrey, Kent and Berkshire.

Crowborough is one of the stations in East Sussex that has benefited from the provision of step-free access.

As well as being commemorated by the station sign, Sherlock Holmes is commemorated as the name of a Class 20 locomotive.

“Our railway exists to serve the communities around it, to connect people and places, and this year we’re celebrating 200 years of the modern railway. Like Sir Conan Doyle’s iconic Sherlock Holmes, the railway is something which forms part of our British identity. I am really proud we have been able to commemorate this literary legend, and I hope that all our passengers stop, think and perhaps pick up one of his books from the station bookshelf.”

Crowborough station manager Josh De Angelis-Taylor