J.R.R. TOLKIENAND BIRMINGHAMProfessor J.R.R. <strong>Tolkien</strong> in 1972J.R.R. <strong>Tolkien</strong> is one of the best known authors in theworld. His epic work The Lord of the Rings (published1954-55) was voted the most popular book of thetwentieth century. His children’s story The Hobbit (1937)is equally famous, and the two works have been translatedinto dozens of languages worldwide.<strong>Tolkien</strong> lived in nine homes in the south of <strong>Birmingham</strong>during his formative years from 1895 to 1911, when heleft to study at Exeter College, Oxford. Although he neverlived in the city again, he referred to <strong>Birmingham</strong> as hishome town and to himself as a ‘<strong>Birmingham</strong> man’. Laterin life he explained that he drew inspiration for his writingfrom the people and landscapes of the city and thesurrounding countryside.John Ronald Reuel <strong>Tolkien</strong> was born on 3 January 1892in Bloemfontien, now in South Africa. His parents, Arthurand Mabel <strong>Tolkien</strong>, were originally from <strong>Birmingham</strong> buthad emigrated to further Arthur’s career in banking. In1895 Mabel took Ronald and his younger brother Hilaryto <strong>Birmingham</strong> to see their grandparents for the first time.Whilst they were visiting her parents in Kings Heath,Mabel received news that Arthur had contractedrheumatic fever. Sadly, he died before she was able toreturn to South Africa.With no desire toreturn to South Africa,the family settled inthe hamlet of Sareholewhere they lived forfour years. In 1900they moved to ahouse on the AlcesterRoad in Moseley fromwhere Ronald couldtake a tram to KingEdward’s School, thenlocated in New Streetin <strong>Birmingham</strong> citycentre.The family soonmoved again toWestfield Road inKings Heath andthen to LadywoodWatercolour of Sarehole Millby Heike Vajenand a house (now demolished) in Oliver Road, in orderto be near the Catholic Oratory church. Mabel, a recentconvert to Catholicism, drew strength from her newfaith. Diagnosed as diabetic, she died in 1904 whileconvalescing at the Oratory’s retreat near Rednal.Following their mother’s death, the boys remained inthe Ladywood/Edgbaston area. They originally lived withtheir aunt in Stirling Road, but they were not happy andmoved to lodgings in Duchess Road. Four years laterthey moved to their last <strong>Birmingham</strong> address inHighfield Road, where Ronald learnt that he had gaineda place at Exeter College, Oxford. With the exceptionof army service, a spell as a lecturer in Leeds andretirement in Poole, <strong>Tolkien</strong> was to live and work inOxford for most of his life.<strong>Tolkien</strong> died on 2 September 1973, aged eighty-one.Kings Heath High Street
The <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>Tolkien</strong> <strong>Trail</strong>HagleyHighfield RoadBlue PlaqueEdgbaston & LadywoodHighfield Road6DudleyHagley Road (A456)859B4532HandsworthSoho RoadRoad (A457)Highfield Rd B4532Priory Rd B4217BristolSoho HillWinson Green7Hamstead RoadIcknield StLadywood MdwyEdgbastonVilla RoadMiddlewayRoad (A38)SalisburyLozellsNew John St WestLadywoodRoad10Birchfield Road(A34)B4127PerryBarrAstonCityCentre(A456)Road (A435)AlcesterA41Lichfield Road (A5127)Middleway(A4540)StratfordBalsallHeathMoseleyWake Green Rd31DuddestonBordesleyRoad2(A34)Cole Bank RdNechellsSparkbrook4HallGreenYardley Wood RoadYardley Wood RoadEdgbastonWaterworksTowerWindermereStirling RoadYardley Wood RoadHagleyWindermereRoadEntranceMoseleyBogEntranceWake Green RoadEntranceSwanshurst Lane B4146RoadEntranceMoseleyBogEntrancePerrott’sFollyWaterworks RoadRoadThirlmere DrivePensby ClosePensby CloseOratorySwanshurst Lane B4146Green RoadWake Green RoadHighfield RoadBlue Plaque264 Wake GreenRoadHall Green & MoseleyWake Green RoadEntranceThirlmere DriveMonument Road B4124B4532SareholeMillRiver ColeCole Bank RoadGreen RoadWake Green Road264 Wake GreenRoadPlough& HarrowA456 Hagley RoadHighfield RoadShireCountryParkSareholeMillRiver ColeSarehole RoadSarehole RoadCole Bank RoadShireCountryParkSarehole RoadSarehole RoadA4540Stratford Road A34 Stratford Road A34Ladywood MiddlewayA456CityCentre4 milesStratford Road A34 Stratford Road A34Green RoadFordCityCentre1 mileA4540CityCentre4 milesYardley Wood RoadPlease note: these maps are only an approximate guide to the relative sites.For public transport information contact Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.networkwestmidlands.com
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