A HOTEL redesigned by renowned Scottish author Arthur Conan Doyle, inspired by his spiritualist beliefs, faces demolition.
Town planners in Hampshire have recommended that The Lyndhurst Hotel be torn down in favour for a block of flats.
The now-derelict hotel closed in 2024 and developers hoped to keep the facade designed by Conan Doyle, as per a condition of the original planning application in 2022.
Developer Burry and Knight applied to have this condition dropped earlier this year and a town planner has now recommended to councillors it be accepted, citing safety concerns.
READ MORE: Scottish rural housing charity to close down after 23 years
The hotel was redesigned by the Sherlock Holme's author in 1912 while he was staying in the east wing with his family. At the time, Conon Doyle kept his spiritual beliefs a secret but put them into the designs.
The Victorian Society objected to the new plans, claiming the proposed reconstruction is not “like for like” due to the departures from the original designs.
The society added that the “proposed complete demolition of the buildings is not justified when previous engineers’ reports have highlighted ways in which the structure could have been preserved and stabilised, yet these have not been executed”.
Brice Stratford, a local historian, said the building should be protected as it was the only physical example of Conan Doyle’s architectural influence.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here