“There is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you”

— Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles

Crowsley Park

Some of our popular local walks here in the south Chilterns take us through Crowsley Park, a former deer park and mansion dating from the late 1600s. The Park is adorned with some amazing trees, including the majestic stand chestnut known locally as the ’12 Apostles’. The current mansion is a brick building, with an embattled parapet and square towers and is probably early C18 with late C18 alterations.

But how is the gentile Oxfordshire countryside of Crowsley Park, far from the wild open country of Dartmoor, linked to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and one of Doyle’s most famous mysteries, The Hound of the Baskervilles?

The Baskerville Connection

In 1845 Crowsley Park was purchased by Henry Baskerville. Henry was a respected person and in 1847 was appointed High Sheriff of Oxfordshire. He died in February 1877 and is buried nearby at Shiplake church. Crowsley Park passed to Henry’s first son, John Baskerville, and remained in the ownership of the Baskerville family until WWII when, in 1942, it was requisitioned for the BBC and became the receiving station for the BBC Monitoring Service. However, the Baskervilles remained resident in the house until the death of Humphrey Baskerville in 1952. The BBC Monitoring Service, having bought the freehold, maintain a presence on the site but the mansion is leased out.

The Conan Doyal Connection

It is possible that Aurthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) became acquainted with the Baskerville family via the Irish composer, poet and author James Lynam Molloy (1837 – 1909). Molloy and Doyle were contemporaries and friends. In 1874 Molloy had married Florence Baskerville, daughter of Henry Baskerville of Crowsley Park, Oxfordshire and in 1880 the couple moved from London to Hambleden, near Henley-on-Thames (just a few miles from Crowsley Park). Did Doyle meet Henry Baskerville, or indeed did he visited Crowsley Park?

It is thought that Doyle took this Baskerville family name for his serialized story ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ (pub. 1901-02), in which ‘Sir Henry Baskerville’ is a leading character. The family were displeased about the use of their name, but Doyle assured them that no connection was intended!

The Hounds

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a tale of an ancient curse in which a savage ghostly hound comes to life terrifying the community on Dartmoor. But where did the inspiration for Doyle’s story come from? The UK is rich in ‘black hound’ folklore and legends, often appearing as death omens.

There are various claims as to the origin of the Hound, as hinted at in the book:

“Of the origin of the Hound of the Baskervilles there have been many statements””

— Cpt 2: The Curse of the Baskervilles

Tradition is that the inspiration for the story were the folk tales of the West Country, as indicated by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's dedication in the book:

MY DEAR ROBINSON: It was your account of a west country legend which first suggested the idea of this little tale to my mind. For this, and for the help which you gave me in its evolution, all thanks.

Yours most truly,
A. CONAN DOYLE

Another claim to Doyle’s inspiration is the legend of the ‘Black Dog of Hergest’ in the Welsh Boarders where another branch of the Baskerville family lineage resided.

But there is also an account linked to Crowsley Park of the Baskerville family and its association with fierce dogs.

In the BBC WWII People’s War archive, a radio operator stationed at Crowsley Park during WWII recounts a terrifying experience on one night hearing a supernatural pack of hounds in full cry through the park. The operator later learned of a local legend concerning the Baskerville family.

Are you sitting comfortably…?

hell hounds atop the gate posts to crowsley park

It was the engagement party for the eldest Baskerville son and his fiancé. The young bride to be, however, was in love with the younger son and during the party the lovers decided to elope. They left quietly, took a horse and rode off into the park. The father, however, soon noticed their disappearance and ordered that the hounds should be released to apprehend them. The hounds soon caught up with the couple and then set about the savaging the younger son before the search party had reached them. The father was so distraught and remorseful that he ordered all the hounds to be immediately destroyed. Since that time, whenever a Baskerville dies, the ghosts of those hounds can be heard running through the park in full cry!

To read the full account, follow the link below.

The Baskerville Crest

Visitors to Crowsley Park will notice the statues of "hell hounds" with spears through their mouths which sit on the stone gateposts at the entrance to the park and on the crest of the Baskerville coat of arms atop the front of Crowsley Park House.

Fairbairn's Book of Crests, 1905, has five entries for ‘Baskerville’ which describe a wolf and spear, and one with lion, including John Baskerville of Crowsley Park.

The Big Question?

The big question for Crowsley Park is which came first, the asserted Baskerville family association with fierce hounds or Sir Aruthur Conan Doyle’s story? It has been surmised that the 'Hell Hounds' on the gates and crest, and the ghost story were later additions to perpetuate the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Hound of the Baskerville family connection. Will we ever know?

One thing you can be sure about it that, here at Pipsticks Walks, we will continue telling the story on our ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ walks through Crowsley Park!

The Baskerville Family: Landed families of Britain and Ireland: (431) Baskerville of Woolley Grange and Crowsley Park

BBC at Crowsley Park: Faulkner, Dennis (21 November 2005). "My Life and Times as a BBC Engineer 1942–1945 Part 4". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019.

BBC at Crosley Park – Ghost Story: BBC - WW2 People's War - My Life and Times as a BBC Engineer 1942-1945 Part 5

e-Book: The Hound of the Baskervilles | Project Gutenberg

The Hound of the Baskervilles - Wikipedia

Crowsley Park Walks

We have two published circular walks which explore Crowley Park. Both start from the village of Binfield Heath and follow mainly good paths, tracks, and rural lanes through woods, fields and parkland. The Bottle and Glass Inn offers a perfect refreshment stop near the end of the walk!

We can also offer private guided walks and would be delighted to share this, and other secrets, of Crowlsey Park! Please get in touch.

All photographs of Crowsley Park and the Hell Hounds in this article were taken by, and remain the copyright of, the author.