The Llamasery

This is a page devoted to Sherlock Holmes, argueably history's most famous detective. Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the world they lived in are the subject of much study, and there are numerous groups and societies around the world devoted to such activities. Needless to say, there are a number of web sites and electronic resources available. Of these, The Sherlockian Holmepage seems to provide one of the best entry points to the world of Holmes on the 'net. Alternatively try '221B' .

'The Head Llamas' was a branch office of 'The Franco-Midland Hardware Company' , a Sherlock Holmes study group. Our specialism was the natural history of the Sherlock Holmes canon, but we din't let that stop us from dabbling in all aspects of the stories. If this were the web site of any other Holmesian society you would be reading loads of fascinating information about their numerous activities and events. Not so here. Our activities ceased with the arrival of our family, and the realisation that some societies were starting to take the whole thing far too seriously and turning something that should be fun into a chore. In the past, though, we have organised outings to London museums, to Woking and to Virginia Water.

Why 'The Head Llamas' ? The title comes from 'The Adventure of the Empty House', wherein we learn that Holmes had spent three years travelling the world, including a visit to Tibet, where he spent some time with '...the Head Lama.'. In some editions the word 'Lama' is spelt with two Ls, suggesting that Holmes was in fact meeting the most senior of a group of South American camels. It seemed too good a name for a Holmesian group for us to be able to let it pass.

We do produce an irregular newsletter, 'Llama Droppings'. Some pieces from past issues are available below, but we have no plans as yet to distribute the whole thing electronically.

Articles Over the years we have produced various pieces on the Sherlock Holmes stories. Although most of these have seen publication elsewhere, we are including them here in case you missed them. The Old Shikari - A biography of Colonel Moran This Excellent Inspector - Inspector Baynes's role in 'Wisteria Lodge' Idle Speculations on the Adair Affair - Aspects of the plot of 'The Empty House' The Sumatran Devil - An examination of the link between the Giant Rat of Sumatra and Culverton-Smith.

Disjecta Membra This is a section for other Sherlock Holmes related links and resources. 'The Head Llamas' is a natural history related group, so this site on the wierder Holmesian fauna was of interest to us: 'Fauna in the Canon' For the past few years BBC Radio 4 have been producing radio dramatisations of the Holmes stories. They are currently only one story away from having produced the entire Canon with the same actors playing Holmes and Watson. For the full details of this remarkable achievement go to the BBC Holmes site. Another link with a Natural History slant. Read The Truth About The Speckled Band by Laurence M. Klauber. Click here to see a superb Sherlock Holmes Atlas that Jenny Newbury is producing. This is a work in progress, so some bits of it aren't complete. Find out how a crater on the Moon was named after Sherlock Holmes.

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