Arthur Conan Doyle's former home, Bignell Wood, up for sale

Bignell Wood, near Cadnam, was owned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who visited the New Forest while researching his historical novel The White Company.

He fell in love with the area and bought Bignell Wood in the early 1920s as a birthday present for his second wife Jean.

At the time the site comprised a Saxon barn and two cottages but Sir Arthur teamed up with a local architect to design the elegant country house that exists today.

Bignell Wood, the former home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, has gone on sale for almost £3m. Picture: Spencers New Forest (Image: Spencers New Forest)

Set in six acres of grounds, the seven-bedroom residence is surrounded by woodland.

The current owner, interior designer Jane McIntyre, bought Bignell Wood in 2006 and re-styled the interior while preserving the property's character.

Jane said: “It's a beautifully built house that still has all three of the original stone fireplaces Sir Arthur put in.

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"We renovated the parquet floors and ripped out the very modern kitchen and bathrooms, reinstating an arts & crafts style more in keeping with that period.

“Sir Arthur is known for his Gothic suspense crime fiction and historical adventures so I've decorated the house with rich, dark colours as a bit of a nod towards Gothic drama.”

Bignell Wood, the former home of Arthur Conan Doyle, has gone on sale for almost £3m. Picture: Spencers New Forest (Image: Spencers New Forest)

The author's study was in what is now the red drawing room.

Jane said: "There's a little corner bay where we like to think his desk was. We were told by one of his descendants that that's where he used to write."

Sir Arthur retains a presence at Bignell Wood after saying he hoped a signed photograph of himself would be kept at the property.

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Jane said: "There's a really warm friendly feeling about the house - everybody who ever comes in absolutely loves it. We've kept the original layout, which is very cosy, yet you still have gorgeous entertaining spaces."

Sir Arthur and his wife used Bignell Wood as a rural retreat when not staying at the couple's main home at Crowborough, East Sussex.

Bignell Wood, the former home of Arthur Conan Doyle, has gone on sale for almost £3m. Picture: Spencers New Forest (Image: Spencers New Forest)

After they died their remains were interred in the grounds of the Crowborough property before being moved to All Saints Church in nearby Minstead.

Bignell Wood is being marketed by Spencers New Forest, which describes it as "truly magnificent".

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