Return to 221B Baker Street in Reading

One fun aspect of Sherlock Holmes fandom is that it gives you a wide field to indulge in your passion, especially if it involves research. There are people who write papers on Victorian history, or who investigate the stories to establish when they occurred.

If you’re more interested in room design and furnishings, you can recreate the sitting room at 221B Baker Street. There’s even a group dedicated to it. There are several notable examples, such as one in Los Angeles and of course the one in London.

Then there’s one in Reading, Pa. Every other year, Denny Dobrey opens the doors to his 221B. Denny heads up the local group, the White Rose Irregulars (of which I’m a member), and was recently inducted into the Baker Street Irregulars with the appropriate moniker “A Single Large Airy Sitting-room.”

Our expedition in 2016 was fun, but marred by using an older camera that made shooting in low light levels a gamble. This time, I brought my tripod and new Nikon Coolpix B500 and tried again.

221B in Reading
The tour begins at the stairs, where we’re watched by Sherlock Holmes’ of the past.
221B Sitting Room
The main room. Holmes is out on a case and Watson’s married, so we snuck in.
221B Baker Street sideboard
It is traditional to decorate one’s sitting room with relics from Holmes’ adventures. This also hides the fact that Victorian bachelors never picked up after themselves.
221B Baker Street in Reading
More relics on display, including a set of Holmes’ scrapbooks.
221B Baker Street in Reading
Me with Napoleon and Irene Adler.
221B Baker Street in Reading
Another visitor displays the air gun seen in “The Adventure of the Empty House.”
221B Baker Street in Reading
Holmes’ chemical table, positioned near the window that provided a draft and way to eject potentially explosive mixtures.
221B Baker Street in Reading
Holmes is coming! Quick, Watson, the stairs!

Denny displays the sitting room on his Facebook page.

Thanks to Denny for sharing his expertise and opening his home to us.