Shoscombe Old Place

The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place is believed to be set in 1901 or 1902. It is one of 12 Sherlock Holmes short stories in The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in The Strand Magazine in 1927. Holmes and Watson are visited by John Mason Head Trainer to the maverick racehorse owner Sir Robert Norberton. Sir Robert lives with his sister, a widow, at her deceased husband’s estate Shoscombe Old Place in Berkshire. John Mason is worried about Sir Robert’s behaviour. He has massive debts which can be cleared if his horse wins the forthcoming Derby. Recently, he has unusually argued with his sister, given away her favourite dog and appears to have been digging at night in her husband’s family crypt in the ruined chapel on the estate.