Birlstone was a small, ancient village located in east Sussex in southern England. It was located within the fringes of the Weald, about ten miles west of Tunbridge Wells on the Kentish border. Due to its historical isolation, Birlstone preserved a picturesque, antique appearance which attracted a large number of wealthy new inhabitants by the end of the 19th century. About a half mile from the town was Birlstone Manor, a very large and old country house belonging to Mr John Douglas. Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson visited the village to investigate Douglas' apparent murder of in The Valley of Fear.