A Conversation with Mrs. Hudson
The Baker Street Interviews Hosted by Herbert Greenhough Smith
SMITH: Welcome to the Baker Street Interviews, a new series inspired by The Strand Magazine's Sherlock Holmes Seminars which were held at the British Museum. My name is Herbert Greenhough Smith, and I have had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with the very men and women who lived the Sherlock Holmes adventures you have enjoyed. These are the voices behind the cases — the clients, the confidants, and the witnesses — each with a story to tell that Dr. Watson's faithful accounts only began to capture. Today's interview is with someone who rarely speaks publicly about her famous tenant - the remarkable Mrs. Hudson, who maintained the lodgings at 221b Baker Street during Holmes' illustrious career. Mrs. Hudson, thank you for agreeing to this interview.
MRS. HUDSON: Oh, it's my pleasure, though I'm not used to all this attention. I'm just a landlady, after all.
SMITH: You're being modest. You were much more than "just a landlady" to Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson. You were present from the very beginning of their partnership. Can you tell us about the first time you met Sherlock Holmes?
MRS. HUDSON: It would have been in '81, I believe. My husband had recently passed, God, and I found myself with rooms to let. Mr. Holmes came recommended by an acquaintance from St. Bart's Hospital. He was a peculiar gentleman from the start - immediately asked if I would object to chemical experiments and mentioned he sometimes didn't speak for days on end. Most landladies would have shown him the door right there!
SMITH: But not you.
MRS. HUDSON: I needed the income and there was something... compelling about him. Though I will say I had no idea what I was getting myself into! The violin at all hours, the chemical smells, the parade of strange visitors. But he paid promptly and was generally courteous, in his way.
SMITH: And then Dr. Watson entered the picture.
MRS. HUDSON: Yes, shortly after. Mr. Holmes mentioned he'd found someone to share the rent. Dr. Watson arrived looking quite ill - thin as a rail, with a military bearing despite his poor health. He'd been wounded in Afghanistan, you know. Such a polite gentleman from the very beginning - quite the contrast to Mr. Holmes!
SMITH: As you know, the story entitled "A Study in Scarlet" describes their first case together. Were you aware of what was happening at the time?
MRS. HUDSON: Only bits and pieces. I knew something was afoot when that police inspector - Gregson, I believe - came calling. Then there was all that excitement when Mr. Holmes received a telegram and rushed out. Dr. Watson followed him like an eager puppy. It wasn't until much later that I understood they'd been investigating a murder.
SMITH: The murder of Enoch Drebber.
MRS. HUDSON: Yes, that's the name. A dreadful business. I remember the morning after they'd been out late - they came down to breakfast, and Dr. Watson looked absolutely exhausted, while Mr. Holmes was practically buzzing with energy.
SMITH: It must have been strange having a detective and his investigations centered in your home.
MRS. HUDSON: Strange doesn't begin to describe it. That first case was just the beginning. I learned to adapt. The strangest part was how excited Mr. Holmes would become about these terrible crimes. He'd be practically dancing around the sitting room when a particularly unusual murder was brought to his attention.
SMITH: Did you notice any immediate change in their relationship after that first case?
MRS. HUDSON: Oh, most definitely. Before "A Study in Scarlet," as Dr. Watson later called it, they were simply sharing lodgings out of convenience. Afterward, there was a bond. Dr. Watson looked at Mr. Holmes with a kind of awe, and Mr. Holmes seemed to appreciate having someone to explain his methods to.
SMITH: Do you recall anything specific about the Jefferson Hope case - the cabman who was eventually arrested?
MRS. HUDSON: I remember the night they brought him to Baker Street. Such a commotion! There was Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson and those two police inspectors all escorting this ordinary-looking cabman up the stairs. I thought, "This is the murderer?" He looked like any other London cabbie, though there was something intense about his eyes.
SMITH: Did you overhear any of his confession?
MRS. HUDSON: Not in detail, but I brought up tea and heard him speaking about America and Mormons and a woman he'd loved. It sounded more like a romance novel than a murder case! Mr. Holmes later explained that it was a revenge killing over events from years ago in America. The man died in custody, I believe.
SMITH: Yes, an aortic aneurysm, according to Watson's account. Mrs. Hudson, I'm curious - what was your impression of the relationship between Holmes and the police during this first case?
MRS. HUDSON: Even then, it was... complicated. Those inspectors - Lestrade and Gregson - they needed Mr. Holmes, but they didn't like needing him. Pride, you understand. Mr. Holmes didn't help matters with his attitude. Brilliant as he was, he could be quite cutting about their abilities.
SMITH: And yet they kept coming back for his help.
MRS. HUDSON: They had no choice! Mr. Holmes could see what others couldn't. After that first case, word spread quickly through Scotland Yard. Soon enough, whenever there was a particularly puzzling crime, there'd be a policeman on my doorstep asking for Mr. Holmes.
SMITH: You mentioned the violin earlier. Watson writes about Holmes playing during this case. Do you remember that?
MRS. HUDSON: I certainly do. When he was thinking, he'd play beautifully - classical pieces that were quite pleasant. But when he was frustrated, he'd produce the most dreadful screeching! During that first case, there was quite a bit of both. Late one night, I heard the most beautiful melody floating down the stairs - he'd had some breakthrough, I later learned.
SMITH: Did you notice any of his other habits forming during this time? The pipe smoking, for instance?
MRS. HUDSON: He was already quite the smoker when he arrived, filling the rooms with that dreadful shag tobacco he favored. But yes, during that first case with Dr. Watson, I noticed he'd retreat into silence for hours, just smoking and thinking. The pipe smoke would seep under the door - I'd know not to disturb him then.
SMITH: What about the cocaine that Watson mentions?
MRS. HUDSON: I... was aware of it, yes. Not immediately, but eventually. It troubled Dr. Watson greatly, and myself as well. But it wasn't my place to comment on my tenants' habits, so long as they didn't damage the property. Mr. Holmes only turned to that... substance... when he didn't have cases to occupy his mind.
SMITH: "A Study in Scarlet" also introduces Holmes' irregular helpers - the street boys he employed. Did you encounter them?
MRS. HUDSON: Those dirty little urchins! They'd appear at all hours, tracking mud onto my clean floors. But I couldn't be too cross - most of them looked half-starved, and Mr. Holmes paid them well for their information. During that first case, there was one particularly ragged boy who came several times. Wiggins, I believe Mr. Holmes called him.
SMITH: Did you ever feel in danger, having such cases centered in your home?
MRS. HUDSON: Not during that first case, no. Later, certainly! There were times when the most dreadful characters would come looking for Mr. Holmes. But in "A Study in Scarlet," the danger was elsewhere. I remember feeling quite safe, despite the excitement.
SMITH: After the case concluded, did Holmes discuss it with you at all?
MRS. HUDSON: Mr. Holmes wasn't one for casual conversation, especially about his cases. But Dr. Watson - he was bursting to talk about it! He would come down to the kitchen sometimes while I was preparing dinner and tell me the most incredible details. He was already thinking of writing it all down, even then.
SMITH: Did it come as a surprise to learn that when “A Study in Scarlet” was published, the writing credits went to his literary agent, Arthur Conan Doyle?
MRS. HUDSON: Not at all. Dr. Watson told me about his literary agent before the story was published. He explained that Arthur Conan Doyle was an experienced writer, and that he had a talent for taking Dr. Watson’s case notes and turning them into an interesting story that the public would enjoy.
SMITH: When "A Study in Scarlet" was published, did you read it?
MRS. HUDSON: I have a first edition, signed by Dr. Watson himself! I read it in one sitting. It was strange seeing events I'd witnessed from the periphery laid out in such detail. Dr. Watson has quite the flair for storytelling, though Mr. Holmes complained about the romantic embellishments. Those may have been added by Mr. Doyle.
SMITH: Did the published story match your recollections?
MRS. HUDSON: For the most part, yes, though Dr. Watson naturally focused on the investigation rather than the domestic situations I observed. He didn't mention the chemical experiment that burned a hole in my tablecloth during that week!
SMITH: What would you say changed most at 221B Baker Street after that first case?
MRS. HUDSON: The frequency of visitors, certainly. Before, Mr. Holmes had occasional clients and his chemical research. After "A Study in Scarlet," there were constant callers - police inspectors, clients of all social ranks, telegrams at all hours. But more importantly, there was a purpose to the household. Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson had found their calling together.
SMITH: Mrs. Hudson, you had a unique perspective on one of literature's most famous friendships. How would you characterize Holmes and Watson's relationship as it began to form during this first case?
MRS. HUDSON: It was like watching two puzzle pieces find each other. Dr. Watson needed purpose after his war experiences, and Mr. Holmes needed someone who could appreciate his genius without competing with it. Dr. Watson brought humanity to Mr. Holmes' scientific approach. And Mr. Holmes gave Dr. Watson adventure when he most needed it.
SMITH: That's beautifully put. As we conclude, is there anything about "A Study in Scarlet" or that early period at Baker Street that you feel has been overlooked in the popular accounts?
MRS. HUDSON: Perhaps just how uncertain it all was at the beginning. Reading Dr. Watson's stories now, with all we know about Mr. Holmes' later successes, it's easy to forget that back then, he was just an eccentric gentleman with unusual methods. That first case could have gone very differently. Had he failed, perhaps Dr. Watson would never have chronicled their adventures, and Mr. Holmes might have remained obscure. There was a moment, sitting in my parlor before they had even left for Lauriston Gardens, when the future of Sherlock Holmes hung in the balance.
SMITH: Mrs. Hudson, thank you for these fascinating insights into the early days of Holmes and Watson's partnership. It's been an absolute privilege to hear about "A Study in Scarlet" from someone who witnessed it firsthand.
MRS. HUDSON: You're very welcome. It's been a pleasure reminiscing about those days. They were challenging times, certainly, but I wouldn't have traded my years at 221b Baker Street for anything in the world.
MRS. HUDSON: Oh, it's my pleasure, though I'm not used to all this attention. I'm just a landlady, after all.
SMITH: You're being modest. You were much more than "just a landlady" to Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson. You were present from the very beginning of their partnership. Can you tell us about the first time you met Sherlock Holmes?
MRS. HUDSON: It would have been in '81, I believe. My husband had recently passed, God, and I found myself with rooms to let. Mr. Holmes came recommended by an acquaintance from St. Bart's Hospital. He was a peculiar gentleman from the start - immediately asked if I would object to chemical experiments and mentioned he sometimes didn't speak for days on end. Most landladies would have shown him the door right there!
SMITH: But not you.
MRS. HUDSON: I needed the income and there was something... compelling about him. Though I will say I had no idea what I was getting myself into! The violin at all hours, the chemical smells, the parade of strange visitors. But he paid promptly and was generally courteous, in his way.
SMITH: And then Dr. Watson entered the picture.
MRS. HUDSON: Yes, shortly after. Mr. Holmes mentioned he'd found someone to share the rent. Dr. Watson arrived looking quite ill - thin as a rail, with a military bearing despite his poor health. He'd been wounded in Afghanistan, you know. Such a polite gentleman from the very beginning - quite the contrast to Mr. Holmes!
SMITH: As you know, the story entitled "A Study in Scarlet" describes their first case together. Were you aware of what was happening at the time?
MRS. HUDSON: Only bits and pieces. I knew something was afoot when that police inspector - Gregson, I believe - came calling. Then there was all that excitement when Mr. Holmes received a telegram and rushed out. Dr. Watson followed him like an eager puppy. It wasn't until much later that I understood they'd been investigating a murder.
SMITH: The murder of Enoch Drebber.
MRS. HUDSON: Yes, that's the name. A dreadful business. I remember the morning after they'd been out late - they came down to breakfast, and Dr. Watson looked absolutely exhausted, while Mr. Holmes was practically buzzing with energy.
SMITH: It must have been strange having a detective and his investigations centered in your home.
MRS. HUDSON: Strange doesn't begin to describe it. That first case was just the beginning. I learned to adapt. The strangest part was how excited Mr. Holmes would become about these terrible crimes. He'd be practically dancing around the sitting room when a particularly unusual murder was brought to his attention.
SMITH: Did you notice any immediate change in their relationship after that first case?
MRS. HUDSON: Oh, most definitely. Before "A Study in Scarlet," as Dr. Watson later called it, they were simply sharing lodgings out of convenience. Afterward, there was a bond. Dr. Watson looked at Mr. Holmes with a kind of awe, and Mr. Holmes seemed to appreciate having someone to explain his methods to.
SMITH: Do you recall anything specific about the Jefferson Hope case - the cabman who was eventually arrested?
MRS. HUDSON: I remember the night they brought him to Baker Street. Such a commotion! There was Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson and those two police inspectors all escorting this ordinary-looking cabman up the stairs. I thought, "This is the murderer?" He looked like any other London cabbie, though there was something intense about his eyes.
SMITH: Did you overhear any of his confession?
MRS. HUDSON: Not in detail, but I brought up tea and heard him speaking about America and Mormons and a woman he'd loved. It sounded more like a romance novel than a murder case! Mr. Holmes later explained that it was a revenge killing over events from years ago in America. The man died in custody, I believe.
SMITH: Yes, an aortic aneurysm, according to Watson's account. Mrs. Hudson, I'm curious - what was your impression of the relationship between Holmes and the police during this first case?
MRS. HUDSON: Even then, it was... complicated. Those inspectors - Lestrade and Gregson - they needed Mr. Holmes, but they didn't like needing him. Pride, you understand. Mr. Holmes didn't help matters with his attitude. Brilliant as he was, he could be quite cutting about their abilities.
SMITH: And yet they kept coming back for his help.
MRS. HUDSON: They had no choice! Mr. Holmes could see what others couldn't. After that first case, word spread quickly through Scotland Yard. Soon enough, whenever there was a particularly puzzling crime, there'd be a policeman on my doorstep asking for Mr. Holmes.
SMITH: You mentioned the violin earlier. Watson writes about Holmes playing during this case. Do you remember that?
MRS. HUDSON: I certainly do. When he was thinking, he'd play beautifully - classical pieces that were quite pleasant. But when he was frustrated, he'd produce the most dreadful screeching! During that first case, there was quite a bit of both. Late one night, I heard the most beautiful melody floating down the stairs - he'd had some breakthrough, I later learned.
SMITH: Did you notice any of his other habits forming during this time? The pipe smoking, for instance?
MRS. HUDSON: He was already quite the smoker when he arrived, filling the rooms with that dreadful shag tobacco he favored. But yes, during that first case with Dr. Watson, I noticed he'd retreat into silence for hours, just smoking and thinking. The pipe smoke would seep under the door - I'd know not to disturb him then.
SMITH: What about the cocaine that Watson mentions?
MRS. HUDSON: I... was aware of it, yes. Not immediately, but eventually. It troubled Dr. Watson greatly, and myself as well. But it wasn't my place to comment on my tenants' habits, so long as they didn't damage the property. Mr. Holmes only turned to that... substance... when he didn't have cases to occupy his mind.
SMITH: "A Study in Scarlet" also introduces Holmes' irregular helpers - the street boys he employed. Did you encounter them?
MRS. HUDSON: Those dirty little urchins! They'd appear at all hours, tracking mud onto my clean floors. But I couldn't be too cross - most of them looked half-starved, and Mr. Holmes paid them well for their information. During that first case, there was one particularly ragged boy who came several times. Wiggins, I believe Mr. Holmes called him.
SMITH: Did you ever feel in danger, having such cases centered in your home?
MRS. HUDSON: Not during that first case, no. Later, certainly! There were times when the most dreadful characters would come looking for Mr. Holmes. But in "A Study in Scarlet," the danger was elsewhere. I remember feeling quite safe, despite the excitement.
SMITH: After the case concluded, did Holmes discuss it with you at all?
MRS. HUDSON: Mr. Holmes wasn't one for casual conversation, especially about his cases. But Dr. Watson - he was bursting to talk about it! He would come down to the kitchen sometimes while I was preparing dinner and tell me the most incredible details. He was already thinking of writing it all down, even then.
SMITH: Did it come as a surprise to learn that when “A Study in Scarlet” was published, the writing credits went to his literary agent, Arthur Conan Doyle?
MRS. HUDSON: Not at all. Dr. Watson told me about his literary agent before the story was published. He explained that Arthur Conan Doyle was an experienced writer, and that he had a talent for taking Dr. Watson’s case notes and turning them into an interesting story that the public would enjoy.
SMITH: When "A Study in Scarlet" was published, did you read it?
MRS. HUDSON: I have a first edition, signed by Dr. Watson himself! I read it in one sitting. It was strange seeing events I'd witnessed from the periphery laid out in such detail. Dr. Watson has quite the flair for storytelling, though Mr. Holmes complained about the romantic embellishments. Those may have been added by Mr. Doyle.
SMITH: Did the published story match your recollections?
MRS. HUDSON: For the most part, yes, though Dr. Watson naturally focused on the investigation rather than the domestic situations I observed. He didn't mention the chemical experiment that burned a hole in my tablecloth during that week!
SMITH: What would you say changed most at 221B Baker Street after that first case?
MRS. HUDSON: The frequency of visitors, certainly. Before, Mr. Holmes had occasional clients and his chemical research. After "A Study in Scarlet," there were constant callers - police inspectors, clients of all social ranks, telegrams at all hours. But more importantly, there was a purpose to the household. Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson had found their calling together.
SMITH: Mrs. Hudson, you had a unique perspective on one of literature's most famous friendships. How would you characterize Holmes and Watson's relationship as it began to form during this first case?
MRS. HUDSON: It was like watching two puzzle pieces find each other. Dr. Watson needed purpose after his war experiences, and Mr. Holmes needed someone who could appreciate his genius without competing with it. Dr. Watson brought humanity to Mr. Holmes' scientific approach. And Mr. Holmes gave Dr. Watson adventure when he most needed it.
SMITH: That's beautifully put. As we conclude, is there anything about "A Study in Scarlet" or that early period at Baker Street that you feel has been overlooked in the popular accounts?
MRS. HUDSON: Perhaps just how uncertain it all was at the beginning. Reading Dr. Watson's stories now, with all we know about Mr. Holmes' later successes, it's easy to forget that back then, he was just an eccentric gentleman with unusual methods. That first case could have gone very differently. Had he failed, perhaps Dr. Watson would never have chronicled their adventures, and Mr. Holmes might have remained obscure. There was a moment, sitting in my parlor before they had even left for Lauriston Gardens, when the future of Sherlock Holmes hung in the balance.
SMITH: Mrs. Hudson, thank you for these fascinating insights into the early days of Holmes and Watson's partnership. It's been an absolute privilege to hear about "A Study in Scarlet" from someone who witnessed it firsthand.
MRS. HUDSON: You're very welcome. It's been a pleasure reminiscing about those days. They were challenging times, certainly, but I wouldn't have traded my years at 221b Baker Street for anything in the world.
