J R R Tolkien's Childhood Birmingham

J R R Tolkien spent his formative years in Birmingham. Between the ages of 4 and 8 he lived next to the 18th Century Sarehole Mill. It was the inspiration for Hobbiton. Tolkien was one of the contributors to the public appeal which saved Sarehole in the 1960s. It has now been restored to a fully working mill.

Moseley Bog was situated only a few minutes walk from Tolkien's home and it represented an untamed wild place. It inspired 'The Forest' in 'The Lord of the Rings'. In it's centre is a 3,000 year old site, the 'Burnt Mounds'.