J.R.R. Tolkien lived in the West Midlands continuously from the age of three (in 1895) until he was nineteen (in 1911) and referred to both Birmingham and Worcestershire as his home. His mother’s family, the Suffields, were concentrated in the village of Moseley on the outskirts of Birmingham, but they felt their roots lay in the town of Evesham, Worcestershire. His paternal family had also lived and worked in Birmingham since the 1840s.
The West Midlands was the scene of the most formative events and experiences of Tolkien’s life, from his first adventures in the English countryside around Sarehole, to his conversion to Catholicism under his mother’s auspices, to the death of his mother in Rednal, to his schooling in central Birmingham, to meeting his future wife in Edgbaston, to his lengthy convalescence from war. That Tolkien invested these locations with great personal significance is apparent from his numerous returns to them in later life.
You can find many of the places which have a connection to the author and his family on this map:
Below is my detailed account of Tolkien’s early life. There, I have identified around fifty sites across the West Midlands which should be considered especially meaningful and worthy of appreciation. The Shire Way incorporates thirty-seven of these, including:
- 264 Wake Green Road, Sarehole: Tolkien’s house (1896-1900).
- 430 Lickey Road, Rednal: Tolkien’s house (1904) & the scene of his mother’s death.
- Birmingham Oratory, Edgbaston: Tolkien’s place of worship (1902-1911).
- 9 Ashfield Road, King’s Heath: Tolkien’s house (1895-1896).
- Sarehole Mill: a favourite childhood haunt (1896-1900).
- 25 Stirling Road, Edgbaston: Tolkien’s house (1905-1908).
- 4 Highfield Road, Edgbaston: Tolkien’s house (1909-1911).
- 86 Westfield Road, King’s Heath: Tolkien’s house (1901-1902).
- 30 Fiery Hill Road, Barnt Green: the house of Tolkien’s Aunt May and a favourite place of his to visit (1900s-1910s).
- Dormston Manor Farm (also known as ‘Bag End’): the house of Tolkien’s Aunt Jane, which he visited in the 1920s.
- Moseley Bog: a favourite childhood haunt (1896-1900).
- Duchess Road, Edgbaston: the site of Tolkien’s house (1908-1909).
- King Edward’s House, 131-138 New Street, Birmingham: the site of Tolkien’s school (1900-1911).
- Oliver Road, Ladywood: the site of Tolkien’s house (1902-1904).
- 18 Cotton Lane, Moseley: the house of Tolkien’s grandfather (1904/5-1930).
- ‘Orchard House’, Station Road, Blackminster: the house of Tolkien’s brother, which he enjoyed visiting from the 1920s until his death.