Wills and Bequests: Estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

Wills and Bequests: Estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is an article published in The Times on 18 may 1931.

The article gives the content of the will (dated 6 may 1930) of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who died on 7 july 1930.


Estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Times (18 may 1931, p. 17)

Probate has now been granted of the will, dated May 6, 1930, of the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, M.D., LL.D., of Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex, novelist and spiritualist, the creator of "Sherlock Holmes," and a director of Messrs. Raphael Tuck and Sons, Limited, who died on July 7, aged 71, and left unsettled property in his own disposition of the gross value of £83,491, with net personalty £55,708. Probate, of his will, dated May 6, 1930, has been granted to his widow, Dame Jean Doyle, and his son, Denis Percy Stewart Conan Doyle, both of Windlesham, Crowborough. He left:—

£200 to the Psychic College, Queen's gate. W.; £100 to the Spiritualist Alliance of London, of Queensbury place, S.W.; £100 to the National Spiritual Union, Corporation-street, Manchester, stating as regards these three bequests. "being well convinced that these institutions represent the most important religious movement that the world now holds."

He continues:—

"I would also leave £100 to the Spiritual Community which holds its meetings at the Grotian Hall in Wigmore-street, W. If I have not left more to promote this cause it is because in my lifetime I have been able to devote considerable sums to this end, and because my successors will, I know, follow my example in combating materialism and endeavouring to infuse fresh vitality into the various religions of the world."

He further leaves:—

£100 each to Ernest Oaten, of 13, Corporation-street, Manchester (the office of the National Spiritual Union), to David Gow, of Light, and John Lewis, of 69, High Holborn (the address of the Psychic Gazette); £50 to the Psychic Gazette; £100 to the Authors' Society Pension Fund, Gower-street, W.C.

£50 to the Authors' Club, 2, Whitehall-court. S.W., "to be used for the greater comfort of the members."

£50 each to Linda Falconer and A. C. Walford, if still employed at the Psychic Bookshop, 2, Victoria-street, S.W.; £25 each for souvenirs to Gustav Tuck (of Messrs. Raphael Tuck and Sons. Ltd.), R. H. Saunders, of Surbiton, Surrey, Mrs. Stobart, of the Garden Suburb, Hendon, N.W., A. S. Watt, of 10, Norfolk-street, W.C., and his brother-in-law, Stewart Leckie.

His MSS. to his wife, directing that the executors should "deal as they think best with copyrights, plays, cinema rights, or unpublished MSS.," and directing that the income from them should be regarded as income from his residuary estate.

A life annuity of £250 to his former secretary, Alfred H. Wood, subject to his putting his services at his (testator's) wife's disposal should she desire his help or advice. £100 to his chauffeur, William Latter, if still in his service. A life annuity of £50 to Monsignor Richard Barry Doyle, "now residing on the Riviera."