Birmingham Tolkien Trail FOR WEB

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5 The Oratory6Perrott’s Folly andEdgbaston Waterworks TowerWhen Tolkien’s motherconverted to Catholicismin 1900, the familyworshipped at St Anne’sChurch in Alcester Street,Digbeth.After moving to Edgbastonin 1902, Mabel and theboys attended Cardinal Newman’s Oratory on theHagley Road. The family lived nearby in Oliver Roadand, for a time, Ronald was enrolled at St Phillip’sSchool, at that time located in the same street.The friendship of Father Francis Xavier Morgan, whobecame the boys’ guardian, was a source of strengthduring Mabel’s illness and subsequent death.Visits by appointment.Telephone: 0121 454 0496Website: www.birminghamoratory.org.ukWhilst living in Edgbaston the young J.R.R. Tolkienwould have been very familiar with two distinctivelocal landmarks.The extraordinary 96ft (30m) Perrott’s Folly isnamed after John Perrott who had it built in 1758.The crenelated gothick tower was originally part ofa hunting lodge. In the 19th century it became oneof the first weather recording stations in the country.Along the road at Edgbaston Waterworks stands alater Victorian chimney tower. The tower was part ofa complex of buildings designed by J H Chamberlainand William Martin around 1870.The pair are said to have suggested Minas Morguland Minas Tirith, the Two Towers of Gondor, afterwhich the second volume of The Lord of the Ringsis named.The Tolkien brothers lived with their aunt in nearbyStirling Road between 1904 and 1908.
Plough & Harrow Hotelc.1910Tolkien at King Edward’s School, 1910Below: New Street buildingHighfield Road and thePlough & Harrow Hotel7 8King Edward’s SchoolWhilst living in lodgings in DuchessRoad, Tolkien had met and fallenin love with nineteen year oldEdith Bratt. He was only sixteen atthe time and his guardian FatherMorgan attempted to put an endto the relationship by moving thetwo boys to Highfield Road. It was Tolkien’s lastBirmingham address.In 1913, aged 21, and whilst still at Exeter College inOxford, Tolkien re-established contact with Edith andtheir romance was rekindled. They were married inthe Spring of 1916 in Warwick and in June of that yearspent a night in Birmingham at the Plough & HarrowHotel. Ronald was most likely on embarkation leaveprior to his departing for France as an officer in theLancashire Fusiliers.Telephone: 0121 454 4111Website: www.ploughandharrowhotel.co.ukTolkien attended King Edward’s School in New Streetbetween 1900 and 1911.He proved to be a good all-rounder. As well aspursuing his academic studies he was an enthusiasticsportsman, actor, librarian and secretary of thedebating and literary societies.The school moved to its present site in Edgbaston in1935. Sadly, the New Street building, designed bySir Charles Barry and AWN Pugin, was demolishedin 1936. However, a whole corridor was saved andrebuilt in Edgbaston as the new school chapel.Guided tours of the chapel are available on Fridayafternoons at 2pm during term-time. Please telephonein advance to check availability.King Edward’s School, Edgbaston Park Rd,Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2UATelephone: 0121 472 1672Website: www.kes.org.uk
Page 1 and 2: Further informationWebsitesBirmingh
Page 3 and 4: The Birmingham Tolkien TrailHagleyH
Page 5: Watercolour of MoseleyBog by Heike

Birmingham Tolkien Trail FOR WEB

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