Tolkein spent much of his time as a young boy at the Moseley Bog. It used to be a storage pool for Sarehole Mill and also has two Bronze Age ‘burnt mounds’. The author was inspired by the Bog when creating the the “Old Forest” in his books, where ‘Tom Bombadil’ lived. The area is preserved as a Local Nature Reserve managed by the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, according to Birmingham Museums.Tolkein spent much of his time as a young boy at the Moseley Bog. It used to be a storage pool for Sarehole Mill and also has two Bronze Age ‘burnt mounds’. The author was inspired by the Bog when creating the the “Old Forest” in his books, where ‘Tom Bombadil’ lived. The area is preserved as a Local Nature Reserve managed by the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, according to Birmingham Museums.
Tolkein spent much of his time as a young boy at the Moseley Bog. It used to be a storage pool for Sarehole Mill and also has two Bronze Age ‘burnt mounds’. The author was inspired by the Bog when creating the the “Old Forest” in his books, where ‘Tom Bombadil’ lived. The area is preserved as a Local Nature Reserve managed by the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, according to Birmingham Museums. | Flickr

Birmingham's Lord of the Rings trail: The 8 sites in Birmingham that inspired JRR Tolkien - in pictures

Joe Forte
By Joe Forte

Reporter

Published 27th Jan 2025, 11:25 BST
Updated 27th Jan 2025, 11:26 BST

Here are the areas of Birmingham that helped inspire Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings

The writer and creator of one of the most successful film franchises of all time JRR Tolkien grew up in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham and even attended King Edward’s School and later St Philip’s School.

The Lord of the Rings writer was born in South Africa but moved to the West Midlands with his family after the passing of his father. He began writing the books between 1937 and 1949, with The Lord of the Rings finally released in 1954.

Some of the mythical locations in the book took huge inspiration from areas of Birmingham and are hiding in plain site today. Here are the spots that you can find in his books

In November 1916, the author stayed at the University of Birmingham since it had been requisitioned by the army as the 1st Southern Military Hospital. He was brought from the Somme after getting trench fever. The Chamberlain Tower at the university is possibly the inspiration for the Eye of Sauron.

5. The Chamberlain Tower, the University of Birmingham

In November 1916, the author stayed at the University of Birmingham since it had been requisitioned by the army as the 1st Southern Military Hospital. He was brought from the Somme after getting trench fever. The Chamberlain Tower at the university is possibly the inspiration for the Eye of Sauron. | Bo Luan/Wirestock Creators - sto

The Rep has a blue plaque commemorating Dr J. Sampson Gamgee, a local surgeon and founder of the Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund. And, in the series, Sam Gamgee is Frodo’s loyal friend. Tolkein would have been familiar with the name as the name of the local cotton wool was ‘Gamgee tissue’ and the surgeon’s widow used to live opposite Tolkien’s aunt in Stirling Road.

6. Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square

The Rep has a blue plaque commemorating Dr J. Sampson Gamgee, a local surgeon and founder of the Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund. And, in the series, Sam Gamgee is Frodo’s loyal friend. Tolkein would have been familiar with the name as the name of the local cotton wool was ‘Gamgee tissue’ and the surgeon’s widow used to live opposite Tolkien’s aunt in Stirling Road. | Google

The country park was named so after Tolkein’s book and it follows the valley of the River Cole. It consists of wetland, grassland, woodland and heath, and a large variety of flora and fauna. The ford at Green Road (formerly Green Lane) is one of the only remaining onesalong the Cole Valley and would have been an usual haunt for the author.

7. The Shire Country Park

The country park was named so after Tolkein’s book and it follows the valley of the River Cole. It consists of wetland, grassland, woodland and heath, and a large variety of flora and fauna. The ford at Green Road (formerly Green Lane) is one of the only remaining onesalong the Cole Valley and would have been an usual haunt for the author. | Elliott Brown/flickr

Tolkein’s mother converted to Catholicism in 190 and the family worshipped at St Anne’s Church in Alcester Street, Digbeth. When they moved to Edgbaston in 1902, he and his family attended Cardinal Newman’s Oratory on the Hagley Road. They lived nearby in Oliver Road and the author was enrolled at St Phillip’s School, which used to be on the same street.

8. The Birmingham Oratory

Tolkein’s mother converted to Catholicism in 190 and the family worshipped at St Anne’s Church in Alcester Street, Digbeth. When they moved to Edgbaston in 1902, he and his family attended Cardinal Newman’s Oratory on the Hagley Road. They lived nearby in Oliver Road and the author was enrolled at St Phillip’s School, which used to be on the same street. | Getty Images

Previous
2 / 2
Next Page
Related topics:BirminghamTolkienJRR TolkienThe Lord of the Rings
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice