UNDERSHAW, author Arthur Conan Doyle’s old home in Hindhead, has finally been opened as the new senior school for Stepping Stones School after a two-year modernisation programme.

South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt opened the school in his constituency in front of an invited audience of more than 400 guests.

Haslemere mayor Sahran Abeysundara invited Richard Doyle, the great nephew of Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to unveil a blue plaque celebrating the famous author’s time at Undershaw between 1897 and 1907.

The Haslemere Society’s Chris Harrison told guests that when its blue plaque scheme was launched nine years ago Undershaw should have been the first to have been recognised, but there was little point in putting one on a derelict building.

The official opening was followed by public tours of the restored and extended home as part of the weekend’s Heritage Open Days scheme.

Norman Stromsoy, chief executive of the DFN Charitable Foundation which acquired the site on behalf of Stepping Stones, said: “The high level of interest took us by surprise and we would like to thank all those visitors who had to wait for a tour for their patience.

“Our visitors saw for themselves the transformation that has taken place at Undershaw from what was a virtually derelict building to a very modern special school.

“While some minor features at Undershaw were adapted to provide disabled access, the vast majority of this building is retained and has been thoroughly restored so that it can be easily understood as the home of Arthur Conan Doyle.”