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"I
have my eye on a suite in Baker Street" --
Holmes (STUD)
| The
famous Baker Street, dull and neutrally tinted (IDEN),
was home of the detective's residence and the cocoon
of his pontifications. Along Baker Street's "muddy
road" and "shining pavement" (GOLD),
there were dun-colored (COPP)
and numbered (BERY)
houses. |
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Baker
Street
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Baker
Street Station, Interior View
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As
one closed in upon 221B, one would have seen an
advertising agency (BLUE)
and the Baker Street Station of the Metropolitan
Railway (BERY).
Finally, one would have come to the yellow brickwork
(CARD) of
Camden House (EMPT)
and opposite it, 221B Baker Street. 221B was once
slightly charred by Moriarty's gang (FINA),
but fortunately "no great harm was done."
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| There,
up over the curb and under the door's fanlight (BLUE),
there hung an outdoor bell pull (IDEN,
SCAN) by
which visitors could call Billy, the page or Mrs.
Hudson, the landlady, to the door; and who would,
subsequently, take up the visitors' cards up the
17 steps through the dimly lit hall to the sitting
room on a brass salver (SIGN). |
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Bow
Window
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Baker
Street was wide enough that the opposite buildings
did not totally obscure the sky from the view
of the sitting room window, for at least a sliver
of stars could be seen from that window. And,
there was probably a tree or two within sight
as Holmes was able to tell from the window that
the wind had fallen in RESI.
The view from the sitting room (situated above
the street entry) was from a single, large bow
(4 or more sided window cantilevered outward)
that overlooked the street (GOLD).
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If
Holmes or Watson had a great urge for a touch
of nature, they also had a "solitary plane
tree" in the yard behind the house (which
could be seen from Dr. Watson's dressing room)
(THOR).
The
"London Plane" tree is a very common,
large tree in the genus Platanus, first recorded
in London in 1645 It is a deciduous tree growing
to 20-35 m.
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London
Plane Tree
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For a period
map of greater London, see a map at Dicken's
London .
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