Plaque

Holmes & Watson - Barts

Erection date: 1953

Inscription

At this place New Years Day, 1881 were spoken these deathless words: "You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive." by Mr. Sherlock Holmes in greeting to John H. Watson, MD. at their first meeting.
The Baker Street Irregulars - 1953 by the Amateur Mendicants at the Caucus Club.

The incident commemorated takes place in the first Sherlock Holmes story "A Study in Scarlett" published in 1887. See the plaque at the Criterion for what led up to this meeting.

This plaque is displayed in Barts Hospital Museum and was brought to our attention by Londonist.

The information panel under the plaque gives: "'You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive'. These immortal, but fictional, words signify the beginning of the partnership between Dr John H. Watson, MD, and the world famous detective Sherlock Holmes, in the chemical laboratory of St Bartholomew's Hospital. This plaque, which commemorates that meeting, was originally hung in the Pathology Museum Curator's room, a spot near the new non-existent chemical laboratory. ... Dr Watson had indeed been in Afghanistan, as an army surgeon, but before that he had trained at Bart's and also worked here as a house surgeon. Watson was wounded in Afghanistan and invalided back to England. He returned to London where he met a former colleague called Stamford. Watson was running short of money and mentioned to Stamford that he was seeking cheaper lodgings. Stamford told him about a man who was working in the chemical laboratory at Bart's who was looking for someone to share the nice rooms he had found. This man turned out to be Sherlock Holmes. Holmes' connection to Bart's is more obscure than that of Watson. Stamford tells Watson that Holmes is not a medical student, although he is 'well up' in anatomy and a first class chemist. Holmes might have been a private pupil or associate of the lecturer in chemistry at the Hospital."

At the Amateur Mendicants Society we learn that the plaque was previously displayed in a Medical School building but since no one got to see it there, it was moved in about 2006, to the Museum.

Site: Bart's War Memorial + Holmes & Watson meeting (2 memorials)

EC1, St Bartholomew's Hospital, North Building archway

The photograph is taken from the central courtyard facing north.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Holmes & Watson - Barts

Subjects commemorated i

Sherlock Holmes

Originally named Sheridan Hope, then Sherringford Holmes and finally Sherlock...

Read More

Dr Watson

John H. Watson, MD, friend of Sherlock Holmes.

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Holmes & Watson - Barts

Created by i

Baker Street Irregulars

The Baker Street Irregulars is a literary society dedicated to the study of S...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Holmes & Watson - Barts

Also at this site i

Bart's War Memorial

Bart's War Memorial

{Entering the hospital from West Smithfield you walk through an arched passag...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Lord Hore-Belisha

Lord Hore-Belisha

SW1, Stafford Place, 16

Lord Hore-Belisha, 1893 - 1957, statesman, lived here. Greater London Council

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Hugh John Moore - plaque

Hugh John Moore - plaque

EC2, Poultry, 37

Commander Moore was attacked at this spot, but actually died later in a hospital in Bushey. QPM is the Queen's Police Medal. This is the...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
BBC Television Centre - Tony Hancock

BBC Television Centre - Tony Hancock

W12, Wood Lane, BBC Television Centre - Star Terrace

The plaque on the brick wall in the picture reads: The BBC Star Terrace, "Bring me fun, bring me sunshine, bring me love" Sylvie Dee. De...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
St Martin Outwich

St Martin Outwich

EC2, Threadneedle Street

Site of St Martin Outwich, demolished 1874. The Corporation of the City of London

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Gracie Fields - N1

Gracie Fields - N1

N1, Upper Street, 72a

Gracie lived here in a flat above a sweet shop, 1926 - 1929, with her parents and first husband, Archie Pitt. She made her London debut ...

1 subject commemorated