Figure 1: View of 49 Great Russell Street on Victorian Google Maps

Figure 2: Google Maps screenshot of Museum Tavern as of today 

 

 

 

Figure 3: Charles Booth Online Archive screenshot of 49 Great Russell Street

 

From what we know about the 49 Great Russell Street, or the Alpha Inn, (now known as the Museum Tavern because of the popularity from museum goers) from the Blue Carbuncle is that Henry Baker had purchased the goose, unknowing of the precious gem inside, from the Alpha Inn near the British Museum. From the Charles Booth Online Archive (Figure 3) we can tell that everywhere around the museum was middle to upper middle class, telling us that everyone living around there was very comfortable financially. This tells us about Henry Baker, knowing that he could afford to buy a (probably) pricey goose from the Inn. The goose must have been a well kept one, or it’s original seller must have been a middle class person to have the ability to sell in that area, around the upper class people.  According to an article on the British History website, a very wealthy and talented artist and scientist Benjamin Wilson lived on Great Russell Street for the ending of his life in the 1700s, giving us insight that significant people who can afford to live on this street have been doing so for a hundred years (Nos. 55 and 56, Great Queen Street). From a court preceding in Old Bailey’s Archive made in 1811, John Jones was a poulterer on Great Russell Street who had some product stolen from him (“John Jones, theft”). This is very interesting information because in the original Holmes story, a piece of poultry was sold on that street, giving the readers information that Great Russell Street is a popular market, and one good enough to steal from. This is important because Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle wanted to put Sherlock into current context so his readers could relate to the story, and give Sherlock a more real feel.

 

Works Cited

“John Jones, Theft, October 30th 1811 (t18111030-79).” Old Bailey Proceedings Online Web. November 8. 2015. http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t18111030-79&div=t18111030-79&terms=+Great%20+Russell%20+Street%20#highlight

‘Nos. 55 and 56, Great Queen Street.’ Survey of London: Volume 5, St Giles-in-The-Fields, Pt II. Ed. W Edward Riley and Laurence Gomme. London: London County Council, 1914. 42-58. British History Online. Web. 6 November 2015. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol5/pt2/pp42-58.