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Sussex Retirement
| Tropes and genres | |
|---|---|
| Synonym(s) | Sussex Cottage, Sherlock Holmes's Retirement, Retirementlock, Retirement!lock, Sussexlock, Beeretirement, Retirement Era |
| Related tropes/genres | Sherlock Holmes |
| See also | South Downs Cottage |
 | |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Sussex Retirement is a trope in Sherlock Holmes fandom. We know from the canon stories by Arthur Conan Doyle that Holmes retires to a house in Sussex and that Watson visits him there. Many fans have taken this concept and included it in their fanworks, although there is usually one major change from canon, in fanworks Holmes and Watson live together in Sussex. Either they both move to Sussex at the same time, or Watson joins Holmes at a later point. These stories can be romantic or platonic, but the majority of fans seem to feel that the pair should not be separated in retirement/old age.
Although originally based in the book fandom, the fandoms of many of the adaptations will also include Holmes retiring to Sussex in their fanworks.
Common Elements in Sussex Retirement Fanworks
The prevalence of these vary depending on the wishes of the creator, but here are some popular elements you will find in many of these fanworks:
- Beekeeping: something also taken from canon, Watson mentions in one of the later stories that Holmes has taken up beekeeping, so this is often incorporated into fanworks.
- Domestic fic: following the day to day lives of Holmes and Watson in retired life, these can often be connected with fluff.
- Part-time Careers: some fanworks will have Holmes and Watson completely retired, but others will have them still pursuing their professions, but in a more subdued manner. Holmes might still be occasionally consulted on cases and make periodic trips to London, and Watson may act as a country doctor for their neighbours and friends.
- Established Relationship: if the fanworks are romantic in nature, it is very common to have Holmes and Watson already in an established relationship.
- Getting Together: not quite as common, but there are romantic fanworks where Holmes and Watson retiring to Sussex is the inciting incident that finally brings them together as a couple.
Example Fanworks
Fanart
- old gays for ghostbees, Archived version by maturiin (2015)
- I love you my friend, Archived version by shcatlo (2018)
- one more retirementlock art, Archived version by werrrrrrrrrrrrrrrcat (2021)
- some holmes/watson doodles, Archived version by gooolabatooo (2022)
Fanfiction
- Fine Print by mistyzeo
- A Man of Great Character and Better Humor by sans_patronymic
- The Case of the Lost Cat by Nuthatch_in_a_Nutshell
Resources
- Sherlock Holmes's Retirement and Sussex tags at Archive of Our Own