Tolkien Trail
J.R.R. Tolkien lived close to Sarehole Mill in Birmingham (just off the Stratford Road) for four years of his childhood after his family moved to there in 1896. The mill and other places including Moseley Bog, were inspirations for ‘The Shire’ and ‘Hobbitton’.
The local Tolkien Trail begins with Sarehole Mill and includes Moseley Bog, St Anne’s Church, The Oratory, Perrott’s Folly and places where Tolkien lived.
The Tolkien Trail Guide has maps and quotes from Tolkien’s books, highlighting how he used not only his surroundings but also local characters as inspiration – Sam Gamgee for one!