Читать книгу An A-Z of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit - Sarah Oliver - Страница 22

J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit, may have been born in Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State (known today as Free State Province, South Africa), but tourism bosses in Birmingham, England are keen to point out that from 1895 to 1911 he lived in the city. His grandparents owned a shop in the centre, which had been in the family since the early 1800s (the building it was situated in was called Lamb House). Tolkien’s great-great-grandfather had run a stationer’s and bookshop from Lamb House and following this, his great grandfather had a drapery and hosiery store there.

Birmingham tourism bosses are hoping that The Hobbit movies will bring tourists to the city to see where Tolkien spent his childhood and witness for themselves the buildings that are said to have inspired Tolkien while writing. It is thought that the Two Towers from The Lord of the Rings are based on Perrott’s Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks. Perrott’s Folly is nicknamed ‘The Observatory’ and is a 29 m-high tower. Built in 1758, it is Grade II listed.

Local volunteer Chris Hoare told Darren Cannan from the BBC during a trip to Perrott’s Folly in 2003: ‘Don’t forget Tolkien lived at 25 Stirling Road, went to the Oratory and drank in the Ivy Bush.’

Tourism bosses have recently opened a new Tolkien themed gallery at Sarehole Mill in Hall Green, which shows The Hobbit author’s links with Birmingham through photographs and film. Chairman of the Birmingham Tolkien Group Michael Wilkes is overjoyed with the gallery and told Neil Elkes from the Birmingham Mail: ‘This is a step forward for Tolkien heritage in Birmingham. The Birmingham Tolkien Group has worked closely with the city museum service on this. We get visitors from all over the world here and we’ve even had visitors from Eastern Europe.’

As well as the gallery, the city has held a Tolkien weekend every year since 2000. The 2012 weekend celebrated 75 years since The Hobbit was published. It was called ‘Middle-earth Weekend’ and took place at Shire County Park on 19 and 20 May. There were re-enactments of key scenes from Tolkien’s books, medieval craftsmen, archery, dancing, music and much more. It was a free event and people travelled from far and wide to take part.