The Criterion Bar’s Gay History

Most know the Criterion Bar as the place where Dr. John Watson met his young friend Stamford on that fateful night before being introduced to the one and only Sherlock Holmes, the man who would be the star of Dr. Watson’s writings.

What is not commonly known or spoken about is the Criterion Bar’s Victorian history…

That of being a Victorian Gay Bar.

Now official ‘gay bars’ were not exactly a thing in the Victorian Era due to anti-LGBT laws (including Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885). That said, the Criterion Bar was known (when the stories were written) as a meeting point for gay men in the Victorian era.

‘A New City of Friends’: London and Homosexuality in the 1890s

By Matt Cook

“..Ives noted that the Criterion Bar on Piccadilly Circus was ‘a great centre for inverts’ until it closed in 1905 .”

The Inverted City: London and the Constitution of Homosexuality 1885-1914, M. D. Cook

https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/jspui/handle/123456789/1620

The Criterion Bar is spoken about by George Cecil Ives, an LGBT advocate in the Victorian era and leader of the secret LGBT society, the Order of Chaeronea.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Chaeronea

George Cecil Ives was also friends to both Oscar Wilde and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and George Cecil Ives were friends and cricket teammates on the team “Allahakbarries”, which, at the time, they thought meant ‘Heaven Help Us’.

When it comes to Sherlock Holmes, of all the bars within London that could be chosen for Dr. Watson and Stamford to meet, and for Watson to be lead from to be introduced to Holmes, Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle chose to use -that- one.

(Special thanks to @ImaBretthead for pointing out the bar’s past.)

“ Willie Hornung, the brother-in-Law Of ACD, was a friend of George Ives. He used him as the model for the gentleman thief Raffles, in his series of books. Sir Arthur was also acquainted with Mr. Ives.

Cafe Royal, The Langham Hotel, The Criteron Bar…These are not coincidences.”

- @ImaBretthead

Pyjama boys...

Y’all know i was going to find a way to bring it back to this ;)

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mothfeather339

3 weeks ago

One of the most incredible feelings is when someone wants to share their creative process with you. You have an idea? A drabble? A drawing? A snippet? A story to share? I am OBSESSED. Tell me everything or as much as you want to. Update me with any detail. I will love it. Because you made it so it is special and incredible. <3

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mothfeather339

3 months ago

Posting a WIP to show my s2 Jon.

I think in s1 he straightens his hair and is usually clean shaven (maybe a little stubble after late nights). That shit goes out the window in s2 lol

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mothfeather339

8 months ago

Sherlock Holmes and the hound with a basketball or something I haven’t read that one

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mothfeather339

1 month ago

@cactisays <3

meowing at you meowing at you i remembered you exist so now i am, as you might have guessed already, meowing at you. and meowing at you meowing at you some more. meowing at you. and meowing at you again. for good measure. purring and meowing and purring as well. and meowing! meowing at you, specifically. did i mention that i am, currently, meowing at you? meowing at you. meowing at you. and also purring. at you. meowing at you meowing at you. meow

24K notes View Post

mothfeather339

3 months ago

Magnus Institute Job Interview

Elias: Do you speak any foreign languages?

Jonathan Sims: No, but—

Elias: Don’t worry, you will.

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mothfeather339

3 months ago

honestly it was a red flag when bbc sherlock went “well obviously the word written in blood isn’t the german word for revenge, it’s clearly the beginning of the name ‘rachel’, what absolute idiot would fail to see that” when in the original novel it is, in fact, the german word for revenge, which sherlock points out gleefully to a roomful of policemen who all figure it’s the beginning of the name ‘rachel.’

and by red flag I mean it was a clear sign that the adaptation was trying to one-up the source material, instead of engaging with it with love.

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mothfeather339

5 months ago

You have no idea how ✨glad✨ I am that so many of you are loving my Ineffable Cats, so here's a little treat🤭😺✨